Inscription surrounded by floral border: Crocus: PD.8-1980.f.30

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Graphite

Components of the work

Support composed of paper
Leaf Height 326 mm Width 255 mm

Techniques used in production

Watercolour : Watercolour over graphite on paper

Inscription or legends present

• Text: 57
• Location: Recto, upper right
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: Yellow and purple and white, / Snow-white and lilac and gold, / Crocuses, my crocuses, / Peering up from the mould; / These like fingers of flame / These in a raiment of snow, / And these in the dusky hue of thoughts / Cherished from long ago. / Last year, last month, last week. / My patch of garden was bare, / No glimmer of green or gleam of gold / Or sign of life was there; / It was only this morning early / That Spring came by this way, / And the gifts she leaves for a token / Were only mine today. / She delayed and delayed her coming, / For March was fierce and strong; / The bitter wind of his fury / kept Winter here too long; / But at last his golden morning / Stirred every patient wing. / And down the shaft of a sunbeam / Glided the gentle Spring.
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: Hark, how the sparrows twitter, / For joy of the warmer sun! / They began their mating a month ago, / And their nesting will soon be done; / But the thrush has a gladder welcome, / Which he'll sing in the mellow eves; / I have heard him trying it over / In the trees forlorn of leaves. / Forlorn? / Not now, nor ever, / Since Spring is here again, / And crocuses, my crocuses, / Herald her happy reign; / Yellow and white and purple, / Snow-white, blue-veined, and gold, / The signs of a new possession / That is old as the world is old- / New life, new love, new leafage, / Forever old and young, / in all the flowers that open, / In all the songs that are sung; / And hers is the beautiful mission / To blossom end bloom and sing, / My crocus-bringer, my passion / The Maid of the Months, the Spring. / G. Cotterell.
• Location: Verso
• Method of creation: Watercolour

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.8-1980.f.30
Primary reference Number: 44091
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 3 August 2020 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints