Hollyhocks is a very fine example of Grave’s interest in Colonial Revival gardens. Beginning as early as 1876, avid gardeners and architects took an interest in 18th century gardens, fine English cottage gardens and Italian approaches to gardening spurring an avid renaissance of creating constructed beds and perennial gardens based on historic studies of European gardens. Graves took an interest in doing what could be termed “Garden portraiture”, capturing gardens and foliage around the architecture of a fine home. He became well recognized and sought after for these pastel and lively Impressionisticly rendered vignettes. He was known to do them in the Kennebunkport, Maine area, in New Hampshire, Gloucester, Massachussetts and other New England locations. He lived in Maine and would paint locally and then received commissions to do wealthy people’s gardens and often included the owner of the garden in the painting as well.