The world of books and art, 1789 – 1914
Arguably the Victorians invented modern sport, or at least codified it. Inevitably that enthusiasm was reflected in their art. Fishing, hunting, racing and shooting even had their own schools of painters. Going North, King's Cross Station (1893) by George Earl (English artist, lived 1824–1908). National Railway Museum. This painting shows King's Cross Station (think Harry... Continue Reading →
This is a short postscript to the last post, it's not going to be a regular theme. I prefer to focus on the positive, if possible. Another public museum is selling off art to pay the bills. Berkshire Museum in Massachusetts (USA) is selling off 40 of it's most notable paintings, sculptures and drawings -... Continue Reading →
Today is the anniversary of the death of Sir David Wilkie (18 November 1785 – 1 June 1841). A Scottish painter. When I think of Wilkie, I immediately think of the The Letter of Introduction. The Letter of Introduction (1813) Readers reading series #11 The painting was completed in the same year that Jane Austen's... Continue Reading →
The peculiar life & times of Flaming June: "The most wonderful painting in existence". A world renown Pre-Raphaelite piece of art - that will take us from Clapham Common to Puerto Rico, but carefully avoiding Andrew Lloyd Webber's lefty granny.
'The Funeral of Shelley’ by Louis Édouard Fournier (1889). The Walker Gallery, Liverpool, UK. The painting depicts the funeral of the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley on a beach in Tuscany (18 July, 1822). It is said by some that Edward Trelawny plucked Shelley’s carbonised heart from the ashes, but was eventually persuaded to hand... Continue Reading →
The Day Dream (1880) - By Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882). Victoria & Albert Museum. Readers reading #9 Instead of 'Readers reading', perhaps this one ought to be titled 'Reader forgetting about reading' - we've all done it, one moment reading, the next drifting into a dream. Rossetti was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #8 I saw this painting and immediately thought of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Oh, whatever happened to the art of letter writing? Smiley face, lol. Heart. Smiley blowing a kiss. Heart kiss kiss. https://uk.pinterest.com/longvictorian2/jane-austen/ The 'Readers reading' series on this blog (this list last updated, 12th March 2017). Readers reading #1.... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #8 Answering the Emigrant's Letter (1850) - By James Collinson. Oil on panel. 70 x 89cm. Manchester City Art Gallery. A lovely painting - I have looked at it many times in Manchester City Art Gallery (UK). It leaves my imagination free to wrap many stories around it. Not forgetting the amazing, deep... Continue Reading →
The Breakfast (c.1911) – By William McGregor Paxton. Private collection. The Breakfast (c.1911) – By William McGregor Paxton. Private collection. See previous post. Captions as promised - I couldn't resist it! My apologies to Mr Paxton. Readers reading on Piterest (via The Long Victorian) https://uk.pinterest.com/longvictorian2/readers-reading/ The 'Readers reading' series on this blog (this list last... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #7 The Breakfast (c.1911) - By William McGregor Paxton. Private collection. I am very tempted to add thought bubbles for each of the subjects in this painting. If you have any suggestions as to what they might be thinking, let me know! Perhaps they are pondering the books that were published that year... Continue Reading →
The Long Victorian 