Floral Still Life by Hayley Lever (1876-1958), oil on canvas mounted on board, 24″ x 18″, signed lower right. Additional painting on reverse of board, showing blue and white abstract lines.
Floral Still Life deviates from Lever’s traditional sea and landscapes while simultaneously demonstrating his proficiency in smaller subjects. Here, Lever depicts a rounded glass vase filled with a sparse bouquet of white and pink carnations, all against a rich, vignetted red backdrop. His textured style translates effortlessly from ocean waves to the subtle folds of flower petals, creating a still life that emphasizes shadows, depth, and excitement.
Medium: Oil on canvas mounted on board
Richard Hayley Lever once boasted that “Art is the recreation of mood in line, form, and color. If I were confined to my own backyard for the rest of my life, I’d still have more pictures in my mind than I would have time to paint”. This excitement and holistic passion is effectively preserved in each of his artworks.
The Australian-American artist studied under James Ashton at Prince Alfred College before moving to St. Ives, a port town in England, to advance his artistic career. There, Lever shared a studio with famed marine painter Frederick Judd Waugh and similarly developed a distinct impressionistic style. Inspired by Van Gogh, Lever frequently employed impasto to create three-dimensional texture, a technique that breathed life into his landscapes and became a hallmark of his style. Lever’s stint in St. Ives additionally established the foundation for his career as a marine artist, dedicating several series to depictions of boats and other nautical subjects.
In 1912, Lever moved to New York City, following the advice of his friend and fellow artist Ernest Lawson. There, Lever made a name for himself beyond that of a skilled marine artist as he mastered both city and more provincial New England landscapes. He taught classes at the Art Students League of New York and eventually established a studio in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Prior to his death in 1958, Lever developed arthritis which hindered his ability to paint. Despite this impairment, his legacy immortalizes him as a pioneer in American seascapes and beyond. This collection includes highlights of his still lifes, genre studies (see Woman Tying Strap), harborscapes (see Sailboats in Carceneau), coastal scenes (see Massachusetts Coast), and ventures abroad (see Paris).
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