Flora MacDonald Reid Paintings

Flora MacDonald Reid was a Scottish painter known for her floral still lifes, domestic scenes, and portraits. Born in 1861 in London to Scottish parents, Flora was one of several artistic siblings; her brother, Sir George Reid, became a well-known portraitist and President of the Royal Scottish Academy.

Flora's artistic education began in Edinburgh, where she studied under various teachers including her brother. She later moved to Paris to further her studies, a bold move for a woman at the time, which allowed her to absorb the influences of French Impressionism and the works of old masters. Despite the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated art world, Flora's work gained recognition and she exhibited with the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Academy in London.

In her career, Flora MacDonald Reid specialized in genre scenes and was particularly celebrated for her delicate handling of interior scenes with figures, often capturing the quiet moments of domestic life. Her use of light and shadow, as well as her attention to detail, imbued her paintings with a sense of warmth and intimacy. She also painted landscapes and was proficient in watercolors, which allowed her to express a different range of tones and atmospheres.

Throughout her life, Flora remained dedicated to her artistic pursuits despite the limited opportunities for women artists at the time. She traveled extensively, and her work reflects the various cultural influences she encountered. Flora MacDonald Reid passed away in 1938, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be appreciated for its technical skill and its charming representation of 19th-century domestic life.