From around 1880 through the last three years of his life, unable to move around much as his health deteriorated from syphilis, Manet wrote many letters illustrated with small watercolors. The gracefully written notes are accompanied by still lifes of a single flower or a small group of flowers, fruits, nuts or sometimes a piece of female apparel. Manet also painted many smaller fruit and flower works, often inspired by gifts of these luxuries from a large circle of friends. An impastoed vase of White Lilacs gets bravura treatment, while a small Moss Roses in a Vase is more demure and poignant with its single flower left out of the water to die. The exhibition was organized by the American Federation of Arts.
Admission is by timed ticket, so reserve in advance.
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