“Tulips,” Mary Vickers, 1976 hand-colored lithograph, 22x30 in., signed and numbered 1/250.

“Tulips,” Mary Vickers, 1976 hand-colored lithograph, 22x30 in., signed and numbered 1/250.

A charming and vibrant hand-colored lithograph by Mary Vickers, Tulips beautifully captures childhood innocence and discovery. This rare number 1/250 impression—the very first print of the edition—features a young girl pausing to admire a blooming garden of tulips rendered in Vickers’ signature Romantic style. Hand-applied color enhances the floral textures and brings warmth, detail, and emotional resonance to this collectible 1976 work.

Artwork Description

In Tulips, Mary Vickers returns to one of her most beloved themes: the gentle wonder of childhood. The young girl, leaning forward with curiosity, is enveloped in a lush garden bordering a soft wooden fence. Vickers’ draftsmanship shines through the delicate graphite lines forming the child’s hair, clothing, and posture—while watercolor-like hand coloring adds life to the tulips, brickwork, trailing ivy, and surrounding blooms.

The tonal contrast between the soft whites of the girl’s dress and the vivid reds, greens, and pinks of the flowerbed creates a tender, uplifting composition. As with many of Vickers’ child-centered works, the piece radiates warmth, innocence, and the poetry of small moments. The edition number 1/250 is exceptionally desirable and historically significant, marking this as the edition’s premier impression—often prized by collectors.

Artist Biography

Mary Vickers (British, mid-20th century) is a figurative artist best known for her emotionally resonant drawings and lithographs depicting children, families, quiet domestic moments, and tender human relationships. Her work became widely collected in the 1970s and early 1980s, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, where her limited-edition prints developed a devoted following.

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Born in England in the 1940s, Vickers showed an early aptitude for drawing, particularly for rendering expressive faces and the subtle gestures of children. She was trained in traditional draftsmanship — a foundation that shaped the delicate, controlled linework seen throughout her lithographs. Although not formally affiliated with one academy, her early influences included British illustrators, Victorian genre painters, and contemporary figurative realists whose work emphasized emotional storytelling.

Development of Her Style

By the late 1960s, Vickers had developed the artistic language that would define her career:

• Sepia-toned drawing and lithography

• Soft hand-coloring applied to selected editions

• Narratives centered on childhood innocence, family bonds, and intimate daily moments

• Highly detailed linework combined with atmospheric shading

Her subjects—children fishing, playing, daydreaming, gardening, or interacting with parents and grandparents—captured universal emotional themes. While sentimental, her work is fundamentally rooted in keen observation, balancing technical precision with tenderness.

Professional Career and International Recognition

In the early 1970s, Vickers’ work came to the attention of the Mitch Morse Gallery, an American fine art publisher specializing in limited-edition lithographs. Recognizing the unique appeal of her figurative style, the gallery entered into an exclusive publishing arrangement with her.

For the next decade:

• All of Mary Vickers’ limited-edition lithographs were published exclusively by Mitch Morse Gallery.

• The gallery supervised edition sizes, printing quality, signing, and hand-coloring.

• Vickers’ work was widely distributed through fine art galleries, framing boutiques, and national art shows across the U.S. and Europe.

This partnership ensured consistency, authenticity, and proper documentation—one reason her editions remain highly collectible today.

Technique and Creative Process

Vickers worked primarily in graphite, sepia pencil, and lithographic crayon, creating highly refined drawings that printers transferred to lithographic plates. Many editions were issued in two formats:

1. Standard lithographs (uncolored)

2. Hand-colored lithographs (painted individually with watercolor or light washes)

Her hand-coloring was subtle, never overpowering the drawing—always reinforcing mood and narrative. Edition sizes were typically 200–275, along with a small number of Artist’s Proofs (AP).

Themes and Artistic Vision

Collectors respond strongly to Vickers’ work because it captures universal human experiences:

• Childhood wonder and formative experiences

• Family relationships across generations

• Quiet reflection and interior emotional worlds

• The poetic beauty of everyday life

Rather than idealizing children, she portrayed them with psychological honesty—thoughtful, curious, sometimes lonely, sometimes joyful.

Legacy and Collector Significance

Today, Mary Vickers’ lithographs are sought after for:

• Their technical excellence

• Their emotional accessibility

• The consistency and integrity of her limited editions

• Their nostalgic cultural value as icons of 1970s figurative art

Her prints remain staples in vintage fine art collections and continue to be exhibited in private galleries globally. The involvement of Mitch Morse Gallery ensures clear provenance and secure attribution for collectors.

Mary Vickers (British/American, b. early 1940s)
Tulips, 1976. Hand-colored lithograph, 22 x 30 in. Signed lower right, numbered 1/250. Charming floral childhood scene rendered with Vickers’ signature Romantic delicacy. Highly collectible first-numbered impression.

CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Mary Vickers
Title: Tulips
Date: 1976
Medium: Hand-Colored Lithograph
Dimensions: 22 x 30 inches
Edition: Numbered 1/250
Signature: Hand-signed lower right; edition marking lower left
Authenticity: Verified original print hand-colored by or under supervision of the artist
Provenance: Acquired in the United States; Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
Condition: Excellent
Estimated Market Value: See price ranges below
Issued By: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC

Provenance

Published by Mitch Morse Gallery (exclusive publisher of Mary Vickers).
Acquired directly from Mitch Morse Gallery.
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.