The Eternal Saki

From Iran, Omar Khayyám was an 11th century mathematician and writer who is today best known for his Rubáiyát, a collection of short poems. One of his poems inspired this painting, which concerns the cycle of life, as transient as a bubble.

Withrow spent much of her career in San Francisco. After attending the California School of Design, she pursued European training. At the turn of the 20th century, she established a London studio and while there began to adopt the mystical themes of a group of artists known as the Pre-Raphaelites. She was also inspired by the Symbolists, artists and writers who “suggested” rather than “described.”