The Meyer Gallery in Park City is hosting a group show featuring “Small Art Treasures”. It opens this Friday, September 24 during Park City’s Gallery Stroll 6pm to 9 pm.

Hand with Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnets from the Portuguese No.44”
6×8 inches, oil on aluminum panel
©2021 Fatima Ronquillo

Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
Plucked in the garden, all the summer through
And winter, and it seemed as if they grew
In this close room, nor missed the sun and showers,
So, in the like name of that love of ours,
Take back these thoughts which here unfolded too,
And which on warm and cold days I withdrew
From my heart’s ground. Indeed, those beds and bowers
Be overgrown with bitter weeds and rue,
And wait thy weeding; yet here’s eglantine,
Here’s ivy!— take them, as I used to do
Thy flowers, and keep them where they shall not pine.
Instruct thine eyes to keep their colours true,
And tell thy soul, their roots are left in mine.

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning “Sonnets from the Portuguese No.44”

Laurel wreaths have long been symbolic of success, victory, and peace. More modern symbolism of the laurel include that of poetry and academic pursuits. Crowns of laurel graced the heads of the Olympic gods and goddesses. It is most closely associated with Apollo. Apollo fell in love with the nymph Daphne and pursued her. She fled from him and metamorphosed into a laurel tree. In honor of her, he chose the laurel as his emblem.

Hand with Golden Laurels and Hero’s Eye
7×5 inches, oil on aluminum panel
©2021 Fatima Ronquillo

Hand with Jonquils and Pair of Lover’s Eyes
8×6 inches, oil on aluminum panel
©2021 Fatima Ronquillo

I have long been fascinated by the myth of Echo and Narcissus. It was a story of unrequited love for Narcissus loved his own image and Echo loved Narcissus. I wanted something rather more joyful with with a pair of lover’s eyes and the jonquils heralding springtime and new beginnings.