White Roses and Grapes 

Samuel Peploe made this oil painting of white roses and grapes, with loose brushstrokes and a subdued palette. Peploe was a Scottish Colourist, part of a group of artists who embraced the modern, expressive style of French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in the early 20th century. He traveled frequently to France and was influenced by artists like Manet and Cézanne. Like other Colourists, Peploe often depicted still life and landscape. Considered in its social context, this image stands apart from traditional Scottish art, which often emphasized portraiture or historical narrative. Peploe and his circle were committed to an ‘art for art’s sake’ philosophy, an international movement that valued aesthetic experience over moral or political statements. To fully understand this painting, we need to consider the institutional history of art in Scotland and the cultural exchange between Scotland and France during this period.