Flowers were both a popular subject and considered appropriate for women artists during the colonial period of New Zealand art. In this watercolour Rosa Sawtell has focused on the intricate forms of the massed rose blooms. The plainness of the panelled background emphasizes the flower forms. Sawtell's skill with watercolours is evident in this delicately painted work. She has used a tightly painted technique to render the details of the carved design work of the table but broader washes for the background to create the focus on the roses. Sawtell (née Budden) was born in Christchurch and was a foundation student at the Canterbury College School of Art when it opened in 1882. She exhibited frequently with the Canterbury Society of Arts from 1883 to 1940 and was awarded a silver medal by the society in 1888. From 1893 to 1896 Sawtell was a prominent member of the Palette Club. She also exhibited with The Group in 1935 and 1936. Sawtell was the secretary for the Society for Imperial Culture in the 1920s.

(Label from before 2007)