The Tea Set - Anne Estelle Rice

A still life by Anne Estelle Rice, 'The Tea Set' features a white and blue tea service arranged on a red tray, capturing a moment of domestic tranquility with loose, painterly brushwork.

Anne Estelle Rice (1877-1959) was an American painter and printmaker associated with the Scottish Colourists. She studied at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and became known for her bold, expressive style, influenced by Post-Impressionism and Fauvism. Rice spent significant time in Europe, particularly in Paris, where she interacted with avant-garde artists and developed her distinctive approach to colour and form. Her work often featured portraits, still lifes, and scenes of modern life. She exhibited widely in both the United States and Europe. 'The Tea Set' exemplifies Rice's still-life painting. The composition features a white and blue tea set, including a teapot and two cups with saucers, arranged on a red tray. A silver spoon rests on the white tablecloth. A potted plant with large, textured leaves sits to the left, balancing the arrangement. The background is a simple, horizontal division of colour, with a muted brown above and a lighter tone below. Rice's brushwork is loose and painterly, capturing the light and textures of the objects with an informal touch. The overall effect is one of domestic tranquility, rendered with a modern sensibility.