Three portrait framed pictures are placed one next to the other to make a long landscape format composition. They each have a thinly decorated gold leaf border with a solid dark warm interior. Right in the centre of this are placed smaller portrait panels which are watercolour studies of details of internal parts of the tulip flower. The central image shows a green stigma set against a black background. The image on the left shows a detail of the stigma, stamens and red and white and deep purple petals. The image to the right shows a white stigma black stamens rising up from yellow and orange petals.

From the artist
In this piece I am thinking especially of icon paintings which often take the form of triptych or diptych. I am making an 'icon' of a subject from nature. The central green stigma can be seen as a metaphor for the deity in Christian iconography of the trinity. Sadly these three paintings have been parted from one another and I do not know their whereabouts. Essentially it is, or was, a celebratory piece. It was shown in the exhibition, 'Seasons of Mist' at Kew Royal Botanic gardens in 1995.