Fallen Hyacinth

A charcoal drawing on a wonderfully heavy Fabriano paper. An exploration of tone and form, it felt like a life drawing class rather than a still life drawing. I wanted to journey into the plant up in to the fading flowers, I was lost in the process of making. Rubbing the charcoal across the paper and using my fingers to smudge a change the willow marks.

A symbol of purity and loveliness, of devotion and “I shall pray for you”, a flower that is often given in the brides bouquet..

The Greek myth tells how Apollo had preferred the friendship of Hyacinth over that of Zephyr. In anger, Zephyr caused a wind to blow whilst Apollo was throwing a discus with Hyacinth. The wind took the discus and struck Hyacinth on the head, killing him. Where the body of the fallen boy had fallen a white hyacinth grew. Apollo vowed to keep Hyacinth away from the clutches of the Hades. (Hence the “I shall pray for you” probably occurred).

This is a still life that was created as I followed the growth of some Spring bulbs in a small pot. Having drawn the emergent shoots, on a  different paper and with different media it was time to seek the essence of what had grown and indeed flopped over the edges of the pot. the scent from these wonderful flowers is heavenly and the will that the flower heads have to go where they wish makes me smile.

• Original artwork mounted. Original size: 480mm x 560mm
• Produced March 2026
• Signed original
• Mounted with a back board
• Free U.K. shipping and insurance included