Human Form Artists from the period
To delve deeper into my subject, and to gain an understanding and knowledge of Victorian style clothing and art, I conducted research into several artists of this era. I chose four artists to look at, all specializing in portraiture who portray the Victorian era of fashion and living. To create a Victorian look to my characters clothing, I need to have a grasp on the types of clothing they wore at this time, and how the fashion was specific in both male and female clothing to separate the sexes. It is also important to study how women were portrayed at this time, with a female child main character, I need to understand how women were conveyed through paintings. Each Artist I chose, I looked into their artwork to decide which would have the greatest influence on my designs. I chose different styles of art, from portraiture, to group paintings, and also a female painter who focused on painting young girls. For each artist I will give a brief overview of their life and work, and chose a painting from each to study the contents and characters portrayed.
William Holman Hunt
1827-1910
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/william-holman-hunt-287
The first artist of this era I studied was William Holman Hunt who was born in 1827 in London. Before being accepted into the Royal Academy Schools in 1844, William worked as an office clerk. It was here where he began to exhibit paintings of his own. He also formed a group with some acquaintances, called the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. ‘The group's stated aims were: 1, To have genuine ideas to express; 2, to study Nature attentively, so as to know how to express them; 3, to sympathise with what is direct and serious and heartfelt in previous art, to the exclusion of what is conventional and self-parading and learned by rote; and 4, and most indispensable of all, to produce thoroughly good pictures and statues. (William Michael Rossetti, ed., Dante Gabriel Rossetti: His Family-Letters, with a Memoir, London 1895, I, p.135)’ (http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/william-holman-hunt-287) Creating a variety of paintings through his lifetime, it was in 1852 when his first piece of work which conveyed his new symbolic realism style. It was after this time when he was commissioned to create many paintings, until his death in 1910 in London.
The painting I decided to look at, painted by William Holman Hunt is The Awakening Conscience. This picture was painted in 1853, and portrays a man and his mistress. ' Rising from her lover's lap, she gazes into the sunlit garden beyond, which is reflected in the mirror behind her. The mirror image represents the woman's lost innocence, but redemption, indicated by the ray of light in the foreground, is still possible. Intended to be 'read', the painting is full of such symbolic elements. The cat toying with the broken-winged bird under the table symbolises the woman's plight. A man's discarded glove warns that the likely fate of a cast-off mistress was prostitution. A tangled skein of yarn on the floor symbolises the web in which the girl is entrapped. In terms of my own work, I decided to look at this image for its symbolism, but also because of its portrayal of women. In my own designs I can reference to this image for Victorian style clothing and appearance, but also for the way Hunt has conveyed this woman in the image. Her stance portrays a of frailty and entrapment, conveying how mistresses would have felt in this era.
Arthur Hughes
1832–1915
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/arthur-hughes-283
The second artist I studied was Arthur Hughes, who was born in 1832 in London. Having a first class education at a Grammar School, Arthur went on to enter a School of Design in London where he went on to win an art studentship at the Royal Academy Schools, where William Holman Hunt studied. It was William who had influence on Arthurs art style, with symbolic realism being noticeable in his work. ‘Although a Pre-Raphaelite sympathiser and intimate of their circle, Hughes was never a member of the group. He converted to Pre-Raphaelitism in 1850 after reading the Pre-Raphaelite magazine The Germ; in the same year he met William Holman Hunt, D.G. Rossetti and Ford Madox Brown.’ (http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/arthur-hughes-283) Arthur also had a successful career as an Illustrator, with many of his illustrations being used in famous works. His last exhibition was at the Royal Academy in 1908, with only a few years passing until his death in 1915 in Kew, London.
The painting I decided to look at, painted by Arthur Hughes is called April Love. Painted in 1855-1856, April Love is one of Arthur Hughes most famous paintings. Painted to convey young love, the painting was originally made alongside a poem. 'Hughes changed the setting from a millstream with chestnut trees and forget-me-nots to an ivy-clad arbour or summerhouse with lilac outside the window and rose petals on the stone floor. As with many of the artist's works, ivy is also used to decorate the frame. The Pre-Raphaelites often included symbolic elements in their work. Ivy signifies everlasting life, roses love.' I was drawn to this painting of Hughes by the beautiful use of colour in the image, the use of the colour blue makes the girl stand out in the painting, but could also connote sadness. I also looked at this image in particular as it gave a clear portrayal of a young girls dress and look. The long colourful dress, puffed sleeves and scarf create a beautiful young outfit, which I can take influence from in creating my own young girls dress.
William Powell Firth
1819-1909
http://www.avictorian.com/Frith_William.html
Another artist in the Victorian era I looked at is William Powell First, who was born in 1819 in Aldfield. At a young age, William was passionate about art, and when he reached his 19th birthday he gained entry to the Royal Academy of Art. Working as a portrait painter to gain money for his studies, Williams style and subject matter changed throughout the years. He began to be strongly interested in painting people in everyday situations, and creating group paintings. ‘He was greatly influenced by others such as his friend David Wilkie, who painted “The Chelsea Pensioners”. He admired the works of the novelist Charles Dickens. These men inspired him to branch out into larger composite pictures which soon gained him fame.’ (http://www.avictorian.com/Frith_William.html) His career as a painter was long and he exhibited many paintings, and even sold one to Queen Victoria. It was in 1909 that his career ended, with an illness causing his death aged 90.
This painting by William Powell Firth is called Poverty and Wealth, and was painted in 1888. The painting features a group of people, with those richest on the left side of the image, and the poor on the right side of the image. The painting was created to convey the contrast between these two worlds, and also the activity of London streets. Featuring all age groups, this painting was the perfect example for me to study as I could view many different styles of Victorian dress. From the poor young girls on the left who wear ragged dresses and aprons, and some with no shoes, to the richer young girls. On the right side of the image we can see young girls wearing posh dresses and hats, she is also carrying a handbag, which contrasts to the young girl on the right carrying a bucket. This image will be very influential on my designs as I can get a clear view of how the different classes lived and dressed in this era, and I can implement this into my designs.
Sophie Anderson
1823-1903
http://www.avictorian.com/Anderson_Sophie.html
Sophie Anderson is the final and most inspirational artist I studied. Born in 1823 in Paris, Sophie self taught herself to paint throughout her childhood. After moving to America in 1849 and exhibiting works there, Sophie married a British painter, and moved to England. It was here where she came into fame as a painter of Pre-Raphaelite works of art, exhibiting her work in the Royal Academy. Sophie’s work is most inspirational to me as she is ‘known for her pictures of over sweet little girls, sometimes boys, and with titles such as ‘Peek a boo’ and Little Red Riding Hood’. But her technique was good, and her depiction of nature almost photographic, with the flowers and leaves most naturalistic.’ (http://www.avictorian.com/Anderson_Sophie.html) Creating a vast amount of artwork, and even a childrens book, Sophie worked hard throughout her life even in ill health. She died at the age of 80 in 1903, in Falmouth, England.
This painting is called The Turtle Dove, and was painted by Sophie Anderson. The image portrays a young Victorian girl, holding a turtle dove in her arms. The use of the turtle dove in the image gives connotations of innocence and purity, and give a sense of serenity to the painting. The young girl is dressed in a velvet dress, with long golden hair, the light being used to give her an angelic glow. I chose to look at this image, as it gives me a sense of how young girls were portrayed in paintings in this era. It conveys the beauty and innocence of the girl, and creates an idyllic look. For influence, I can use this image to gain an understanding of how young girls were painted in this era, to influence my art style. I can also gain knowledge of the girls clothing, and understand how young girls were dressed at this time.
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