Martha West Bare | Study

This oil on canvas by Martha West Bare, titled “Study”, depicts a delicate still life of roses arranged in an Oriental vase — a composition that celebrates floral beauty, careful observation, and refined arrangement. The soft, naturalistic rendering of petals and leaves, combined with a harmonious play of light and shadow, creates an intimate, timeless atmosphere. The painting's calm elegance, subtle palette, and thoughtful brushwork make it a compelling example of 19th-century American floral still-life artistry.

Signed by the artist in the lower right corner. Size: 10 x 14 inches. 

Martha West Bare (1864–1940) was an American still-life painter — active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — whose known work features florals and arrangements in vases, similar in style to her contemporaries. She exhibited at respected institutions of her time, including the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) between 1888–1890, and the National Academy of Design in 1890; she was also listed among exhibitors at the prestigious World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. 

Though her output appears limited, some of her works have appeared at important auctions: for instance, a still life titled Still Life with Chrysanthemums in an Oriental Vase sold through Heritage Auctions in May 2015. Also, works by Martha West Bare have been documented through auction-archive databases, confirming that her paintings continue to circulate among private collectors and dealers of 19th-century American art.