A delightful painting of a young woman picking flowers in a garden by Émile Vernon. As well as gathering yellow roses, the woman has also picked wild flowers including buttercups and daisies.

Paul Émile Vernon was born in Blois, in the Loire Valley region of France on 14 March, 1872. Although little is recorded of his early life, he is known to have attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Tours where he received a first prize in drawing. He went on to study at the Paris fine art academy under William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) and Augustus Truphème (1836-1898).

Influenced by Bouguereau in his subject matter, Vernon began to specialise in paintings of women and children, often surrounded by or holding flowers. In addition to portraits, he also produced a number of floral still life works. He made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1898 and also exhibited at the Tour fine art and decorative fair. In addition to exhibiting in his own country, he also exhibited in England in 1904 at the Royal Academy from an address at 2 Upstall Street, Camberwell.

In 1907, Vernon travelled to New York and again in 1908 where he stayed both times at the Hotel Lafayette. At the time, he was recorded as being married and was described as being 5ft 7 inches with fair hair and blue eyes. It is highly likely that he worked on commissions whilst he was there and may well have exhibited some of his works at the New York galleries. After World War I broke out, he joined the French infantry in 1915 but was discharged for medical reasons a year later. He died at Blois on 31 January, 1920.

Examples of his work can be found at the Musée d'Orsay and Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tours.