Opuntia tuna (Prickly pear cactus) (1850-1853)

Dorothea Eliza Smith is the artist behind "Opuntia tuna (Prickly pear cactus)", dated 1850-1853. Plants & Animals, a short history: Images of plants and animals are valued both for the care of their observation and for their decorative appeal. Naturalists and artists often worked together, especially on voyages and in published surveys of flora and fauna. Context for 1850-1853: Landscape gained new prestige through groups such as the Barbizon painters in France and the Hudson River School in the United States, and by mid-century Realism turned to ordinary people and everyday labour. The first half of the nineteenth century moved from Neoclassicism to Romanticism, which placed emotion, nature, and the sublime at the centre of painting. It is listed in the Plants & Animals collection. The image is in landscape orientation.

"Opuntia tuna (Prickly pear cactus)" is shown in the onlly.art catalogue for reference and browsing. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Browsing works by the same artist, or from the same period, is a good way to compare styles before choosing what suits your space.

Welsh, 1804-1864

If you like the visual language of Dorothea Eliza Smith, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.