George Leslie Hunter (British, 1877-1931) Pink RosesGeorge Leslie Hunter (British, 1877-1931)Pink Roses signed 'L Hunter' (upper left)oil on board50.5 x 40.4cm (19 7/8 x 15 7/8in).ProvenancePrivate collection, UK.By 1923 Leslie Hunter's still life painting was reaching new heights. He had left behind the Dutch seventeenth-century-inspired dark background and bold colour still life style, in which he had a small following, and was putting his energies into lightening his palette and exploring his sense of line. And it was beginning to pay dividends. On 23 January 1923, the critic for The Glasgow Herald opened his review on Hunter's recent exhibition with enthusiasm. "His Still Life paintings are strong and simple in design; and gorgeous in colour."His close friend and patron, Matthew Justice of Dundee described Hunter the artist as being "so full, free and exuberant in his expression....giving away of what he could with hands and heart wide open." (National Library of Scotland, Honeyman Papers, ACC.9787)Pink Roses is a brilliant example from this time. Lush paint and texture breaths vitality and form into the roses and his use of line and bold colour for weight in the orange and apple achieves the kind of effect that at a subsequent exhibition caught the eye of The Glasgow Herald critic again on 19 December 1923, "nothing so important by him has been seen for several years." From taking great strides forward in mastering modern colour, to finally receiving recognition for a joyous vision of Nature that provokes the senses, everything comes together in Pink Roses that marks Hunter out as the great Colourist he is. Bonhams would like to thank Jill Marriner for her assistance with this footnote.