The lucrative nature of the portraiture business in Georgian England ensured that it was a highly competitive area. Artists worked hard to win favour amongst the elite classes.
Kitchen Interior with Christ in the House of Mary and Martha by Cornelis Engelszen (1574-1650)
At first glance this intriguing painting appears to concern itself primarily with the presentation of food. The artist has depicted a range of wholesome foodstuffs along the front of the canvas, tantalizingly framed against various backdrops.
The Muslin Dress by Philip Wilson Steer (1860-1942)
Philip Wilson Steer was a son of Birkenhead whose artistic prowess brought much success during his own lifetime, but he is sadly less well known now than he deserves to be.
Margaret Field, Mrs James Samuel Beale by Sir William Nicholson (1872 – 1949)
Mothering Sunday was once the day on which people would visit their “mother” church but has now become an occasion for honouring the mothers of children and giving them presents.
Mother and Child by James John Hill (1811-1882)
Mothering Sunday was once the day on which people would visit their “mother” church, but has now become an occasion for honouring the mothers of children.
Mr Garne’s Cotswold Sheep, Northleach by Richard Whitford (1821-1890)
Richard Whitford was born in Evesham, Worcester in about 1821. After initially training as an excise officer and being posted to Manchester, he was sacked for embezzlement and returned to Evesham.
Vertumnus and Pomona by John Hoppner (1758-1810)
This intriguing painting tells the story of Vertumnus and Pomona, two characters from Roman Mythology. Their story was told in the Metamorphoses by Ovid, which has been a popular source of inspiration for artists for several centuries. Vertumnus is a god with multiple roles. He is the god of seasons, of plant growth, gardens and fruit trees and also possessed the remarkable power to change his form at will.
The Beguiling of Merlin by Edward Burne-Jones (1833 – 1898)
Edward Burne-Jones was obsessed with the legends of King Arthur. As a young man he had stumbled upon an old edition of the tales in a shop and had visited the shop each day until he’d read every word.
The Reader by Harold Knight (1874-1961)
Visitors to the Hove Museum and Art Gallery might easily miss this small, unassuming portrait of a young lady reading a book. It is a simple yet intriguing composition that evokes a sense of serenity and calm.
Chester Castle by moonlight by Henry Pether (1828-1865)
Visitors walking towards the bustling shopping streets of Chester city centre in the run up to Christmas would be hard-pressed to identify the serene scene captured by Henry Pether just two generations previously.
Michael Escolme 