Valerie Parr, Camelia
Valarie Parr Camelia
The Artist
Valerie Parr has left a little bit of a conundrum to the researcher. We know very little about this artist other than that she was active during the 1970s when the work of art in the University's collection was painted.
The Work of Art
This very simple but extremely beautiful work of art depicts the camelia oleiferra flower partly opened. The petals are partly hiding the yellow stamen and the shading on the petals and the catch of light on the white petals clash against the dark blue background. The image is somehow rather intimate and guarded.
The picture was painting using oil onto canvas and is believed to have been painted in 1976 . It was added to the collection shortly after in October of that year.
The Camellia which originated in China, is notable as an important source of edible oil obtained from its seeds. It is commonly known as the oil-seed camellia or tea oil camellia, though to a lesser extent other species of camellia are used in oil production too.