Greenaway, Kate.

"The spirit of the rose quartz salutes you"



2 1/2 by 2 1/2 in., fine pencil and watercolour drawing, signed with initials and dated "K.G. May 28. 1886" lower left, matted, glazed and framed (9 1/4 by 11 1/8 in.), some minor browning

During the mid 1880s John Ruskin was sorting our his famous mineral collection in self-imposed exile in the Lake District. The "rose" connotation refers to Ruskin's infatuation with the young Rose La Touche (whom he wanted to marry when she "grew up"). Following his disastrous marriage to Effie Grey (later Millais), he developed a fixation with young girls as a fantasy of childish womanhood.   The present piece of a little girl waving a pink rose hints at Greenaway's knowledge of Ruskin's 'Rose' fixation. Throughout her association with Ruskin, Greenaway sent several watercolors to flatter and retain his quixotic if not fickle attention. They often, but not always, worked. This would most certainly have been one such watercolor.   Sotheby's is grateful to Rodney Engen for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.