The Garland 

Frederick Morgan painted "The Garland" during an unspecified period. The painting is dominated by golden light, which gives the scene a sense of warmth. The composition centres around a woman and two children gathering flowers in a meadow. Morgan's brushstrokes create a soft, almost idyllic atmosphere. The light is not merely a source of illumination but an active participant that shapes the emotional content of the work. The garland, central to the title, functions as a signifier of innocence and the fleeting beauty of childhood. Consider how Morgan frames this pastoral scene with a traditional compositional structure, yet imbues it with a certain sentimentality. The work invites us to reflect on how these constructed images of rural life play into broader cultural narratives of nostalgia and escape. By examining "The Garland" through a formalist lens, we can understand how Morgan uses colour, light, and form to communicate ideas about nature, family and innocence.