Giovanni La Farge

John La Farge: A Floral Visionary in American Art

John La Farge is overlooked next to Monet or Van Gogh, but not for lack of making a contribution to American art. Trained as a lawyer, he changed direction toward the visual arts in the mid-19th century, when he gained particular prominence with his designs for stained glass and his romantic, nature-filled compositions. You can feel his deep love for light and layered texture in every flower he painted.

A Unique Artistic Voice

La Farge excelled at the richness and expression of stillness. And with that, unlike the more impressionistic French painters of his time, he gave his flowers form while retaining the silent elegance of what amounts to nothing but his domestic world. The interplay of those two—order, softness—is what makes his work so deeply satisfying to copy again and again with a paint-by-numbers set.

Curious About Other Historic Masters?

If you enjoy famous art with a story behind, take a look at our Famous Paintings Collection. You’ll find kits inspired by artists who helped shape the history of Western art, from bold innovators to quiet revolutionaries like La Farge.