The world of books and art, 1789 – 1914
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 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 →
Readers reading #6 The Travelling Companions (1862) - By Augustus Egg (1816 –1863). Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Oil on canvas. 65.3 x 78.7 cm What strikes most people first is that the two young women look almost like a mirror image of each other. There is a post on doppelgängers in Victorian art here.... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #5 The Poor Poet (1839) – By Carl Spitzweg (1808 –1885). Neue Pinakothek (New Pinakothek), Munich, Germany. There's a man who has the right priorities. Little furniture, but plenty of books. Leaky roof, but no matter as he has an umbrellor. A poet? Not much new quality written that year. For some context... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #4 The Novel Reading (1841) - By Josef Danhauser: 1805-1845. A happy couple. I wonder what the armour, book on the floor and general clutter means? I suspect it must mean something because the artist (Josef Danhauser) was a man whose work was inspired by a wonderful series of engravings by the English painter,... Continue Reading →
Readers reading #3 A Pleasant Corner (1865) - By John Callcott Horsley: 1817 – 1903. Donated to the Royal Academy by the artist. "Sorry to disturb, thought you might like a cup of tea." The third post in the “Readers reading” series (this was the first, this was the second). The colours and the shading... Continue Reading →
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