Name/Title
Schiff, Luba (1912-2007) "Peonies"Entry/Object ID
2025.900.FA18265Tags
Oil PaintingDescription
This oil on canvas still-life features a modestly decorated table. The primary object, the vase of overflowing peonies, demands our attention. A few, smaller objects also adorn this table such as small candles, a looking glass, and a gold statue. At first glance, it is easy to miss the oversized plate that sits like a shadow behind the peonies. It takes on a natural personality, such as a full moon, especially when juxtaposed behind bright and delicate flowers. There is a balance between natural and man-made objects in this piece, an arrangement of flowers from the outdoors complements the craftsmanship of the statue or the plate. This is a celebration of the domestic sphere, balancing unpredictable nature with human ability.Collection
Mt. Morris TB Hospital FAP CollectionDimensions
Height
29-1/2 inWidth
13-1/2 inCondition
Overall Condition
PoorDate Examined
Aug 1, 2025Notes
lots of chips, red flower on left background/right of vase/lower flowers on right, 1 scratch left side of vase, 4 holes next to vase end of scratches/handle of vase/lower paint of vase, white paint spatterRecommendations
requires repairs for missing paintProvenance
Provenance Detail
Created under the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project (1930s–1940s), this collection of easel paintings was originally installed at the Mount Morris Tuberculosis Sanitorium in Livingston County, New York. Following the sanitorium’s closure in 1970, the artworks were abandoned and remained in storage until their rediscovery decades later. Now preserved and exhibited by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA), the collection is housed at the New Deal Museum in Mount Morris. Current efforts include digitization, high-resolution photography, and the creation of an online archive to ensure long-term public access and research availability.General Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
See the entry titled 'New Deal Collection Documents' for supporting documents, and general historic and research information.
