MICHELLE HENRY

After completing a 4 week residency at Chateau d'Orquevaux in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France in May 2017, I began working on a series of paintings of the lilies, roses and tulips that I had in my studio in the chateau. These paintings document the blossoming and eventual wilting of these flowers which still remained beautiful despite being past their prime. The titles of the works come from the love letters from Denis Diderot to his mistress Sophie Volland. Diderot (1713 - 1784) was a philosopher, art critic and writer and a frequent guest at the chateau.