On the third Sunday of June each year we celebrate Father’s Day and the important role which fathers play in our society.
Although the day itself does not have a long tradition, originating at some point after the Second World War, it is now widely celebrated with many nations having an equivalent. Although this painting is of a fictional event, it captures a boy’s relationship with his father so powerfully that it remains one of the star attractions of the Walker’s impressive collection. It is set during the English Civil War, in a Royalist household occupied by Parliamentarians eager to trace the master of the house. His young son is being interrogated as to the whereabouts of his father whilst his mother and sisters watch nervously.
The young boy is located on his own in the centre of the canvas, isolated from those who care for him and surrounded on three sides by those wishing to do harm to his father. His mother and eldest sister anxiously look on. Their concern stems from whether the boy will be able to forego his honesty and his integrity in order to save the life of his father. The boy is deliberately depicted as the archetypal Victorian paragon of innocence. His pale skin and blonde hair are exaggerated by the daylight which floods the foreground. It highlights the colour of his clothing against the muted hues of the background. He is dressed in a costume reminiscent of that worn by Thomas Gainsborough’s little blue boy. The artist draws our attention to the boy’s small stature in relation to those around him by placing him atop a foot stool.
Despite the seriousness of the subject matter and the heavy-handed manner of the Parliamentarians Yeames focuses on their humanity. The interrogation panel treats the boy calmly and with a tenderness that belies the intended treatment of his father. The soldier standing guard over the boy with his pike at the ready gently consoles the boy’s crying sister.
This painting can be seen in room 7 at the Walker Art Gallery, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EL. The gallery is open daily from 10am – 5pm and admission is free.
Why you should see this painting:
This is a moving and emotionally charged portrayal of a young boy as he struggles to balance devotion to his father with his strict moral upbringing.
Image © Walker Art Gallery
First published in Cheshire Life June 2017
Michael Escolme 