Watercolor on paper · 24 × 14 in. · Unframed
The great golden bloom at the center of Kennedy’s Rose was grown by Dell in the front yard of his home, where it greeted people as they came through the entrance. It was one of his favorite flowers, and here he gives it nearly the entire composition, allowing the rose to open outward until its petals become almost architectural in scale.
Rather than surrounding it with the expected greens of a garden, Dell places the pale rose among deep crimson leaves, dark shadows, scattered blue berries, and flashes of saturated color. The contrast makes the flower feel illuminated, while the irregular edges, exposed whites, and bleeding pigments retain the unmistakable movement of watercolor. A small moth tucked into the lower corner is easy to overlook at first, rewarding a closer look at the details surrounding the bloom.
Knowing where the rose grew changes the meaning of the painting. Before anyone encountered the stained glass, paintings, tapestries, jewelry, and rooms beyond the front door, they passed this flower. Kennedy’s Rose is therefore also a portrait of the entrance to Dell’s world—something living that stood outside and welcomed people in.
Watercolor on paper · 24 × 14 in. · Unframed
The great golden bloom at the center of Kennedy’s Rose was grown by Dell in the front yard of his home, where it greeted people as they came through the entrance. It was one of his favorite flowers, and here he gives it nearly the entire composition, allowing the rose to open outward until its petals become almost architectural in scale.
Rather than surrounding it with the expected greens of a garden, Dell places the pale rose among deep crimson leaves, dark shadows, scattered blue berries, and flashes of saturated color. The contrast makes the flower feel illuminated, while the irregular edges, exposed whites, and bleeding pigments retain the unmistakable movement of watercolor. A small moth tucked into the lower corner is easy to overlook at first, rewarding a closer look at the details surrounding the bloom.
Knowing where the rose grew changes the meaning of the painting. Before anyone encountered the stained glass, paintings, tapestries, jewelry, and rooms beyond the front door, they passed this flower. Kennedy’s Rose is therefore also a portrait of the entrance to Dell’s world—something living that stood outside and welcomed people in.
