Flowers in a Pitcher c. 1870s

Fidelia Bridges made this watercolor and graphite work, "Flowers in a Pitcher," sometime in the late 19th century. During that period, botanical illustration was a common pursuit for middle-class women in both Europe and the United States. As women were often excluded from formal scientific training, the creation of images like this one became a socially acceptable way for them to engage with natural science. These detailed artworks frequently appeared in publications or were sold as individual pieces. Bridges, however, distinguished herself by working as a professional artist and exhibiting her work widely. We might also think of how the domestic setting of a flower arrangement, combined with the tradition of 'feminine accomplishment' in arts and crafts, shaped the reception of work like this within the art institutions of the time. By studying exhibition records and the writings of art critics, we can better understand the complex social dynamics at play in the art world.