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Friday, August 15, 2014

Hope






I brought this piece of artwork home from the auction yesterday
and need help learning more about it.
It was sold on a table full of Maxfield Parrish prints.
The woman is holding a blooming tree branch.
She appears to be getting something off the ceiling behind
the curtain at the window.  There are bars on the window.
  And her left ankle is chained to the wall.
Is it an illustration to a story?  
Any help would be appreciated!

******

UPDATE!

After searching the picture in better light I found 
the artists signature.  Burne-Jones.

And here's what Wiki says about the painting ~

Hope is a late oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist 
Edward Burne-Jones.  It was painted on commission for
Mrs. George Marston Whitin of Whitinville, Massachusetts in 1896.

Mrs. Whitin originally requested a painting of a dancing figure, but
Burne-Jones, devastated by the recent death of his long-time friend
and partner William Morris, struggled with the work and wrote to ask
if a painting of Hope would be an acceptable alternative.  The result was
an allegory in the Renaissance fashion, with the bound personification
of Hope reaching skyward despite her bars.

The painting is based on an 1871 watercolor by Burne-Jones.
The watercolor is likely painted over the original cartoon for one of
a set of stained glass designs of the Christian virtues of Faith, Hope,
and Charity created by Burne-Jones for Morris, Marshall, Faulknor
and Company.  A three-light window based on Burne-Jones' designs
was commissioned for the nave of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.
The stained glass designs were also used for a set of windows at 
St. Margaret's Church, Hopton-On-Sea. 

The oil pinting of Hope was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, 
Boston by Mrs. Whitin's daughters in her memory.

And there you have it!



47 comments:

  1. Her face looks a lot like the women in Dante Gabriel Rossetti's paintings. But I have never seen this one, so I'm just guessing. Hope someone can help a little more : )

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  2. Betsy - she is fantastic but alas I don't know anything about her - I'll have a look see on line and try to get a lead.
    Have you any more info ? . . . . :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I didn't withhold any info...lol....I want all the help I can get!

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    2. I'll get the thinking cap going and have a bit of a hunt on line . . . :)

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    3. I had a look and drew a complete blank . . . .
      . . . . . but then I saw your update, all from a signature, Bourne-Jones, and the rest on-line.

      Great you got your answer . . . .and an interesting one too .
      On my way to drive my bus . . . . . :)

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    4. I was look too far down in the art for a signature...near the bottom in all those shadows! ha. Yes, having the artist makes it so much easier!

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  3. No idea....but it is very cool! How big is it?
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's almost 2 feet long. I may never know! haha.

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  4. Hi Betsy.Just browsing blogs and yours is more beautiful than before.I actually started another one.But it got lost lol.Im still searching,I think by adding a different password messed it up.Have a lovely evening!♥ Great find by the way.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Becky! Wasn't I just chatting with you on Pinterest? :) Hope you find your blog...I always enjoyed it! let me know so I can visit you. I think the last time you posted I didn't have any cats, did I? Now I have 15. Yes, really! Long story. lol...Hope your kitties are doing well...and your daughters!

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  5. Fascinating piece. I wonder what the story behind it is? Might there be a clue behind the print, inside the frame?

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    Replies
    1. I was thinking the same thing...but it's all glued down and cannot be opened up! I was hoping to see what is hidden just beyond the frame's edge, but can't!

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    2. Glad you got an answer.
      Hope.
      :0)

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  6. Maybe there is a secret sign
    Hidden within to the divine
    The fountain of youth could be at hand
    Or a treasure map to gold buried under some sand
    Get it xrayed stat
    best advice from the cat lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose you'll want a cut, too,
      of any fortune that comes due.
      Don't worry, I'll share with you,
      plus a drink from the fountain, too!

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    2. haha well if its a huge treasure
      Like too much to measure
      Share away
      I'll take a drink any day

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  7. I think is fascinating and beautiful Betsy!
    Look big!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not big, really,...just looks like that in the pictures. ha.

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  8. Oh my goodness..there had to be a story behind that painting. I can't wait for someone to find out and then you let us know. The details are so interesting. Could it be a bird...above the curtain...I thought I saw a shadow....rather haunting!

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    Replies
    1. Well, she is "Hope" despite her bondage. And I guess she's not saving a bird from the curtain (although I loved that thought! ha), merely raising her hand toward heaven. Now we know!

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  9. what interesting elements...the bars and the chains....
    any idea what flower she is holding? there might be symbolism in it
    that gives you a clue

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  10. I have no idea but if you learn more, be sure to share.

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  11. I came back to see what others have said about the painting and found your, Update.
    Very interesting!!
    All the symbolism is amazing.

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    Replies
    1. Isn't it? I wondered how old, too....I'm not especially attached to her, so she might end up in the shop.

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  12. She is beautiful - I love works like this. Hmmmm... I am going to keep my eye on the shop!

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    Replies
    1. I like the ink on paper better than the stained glass, actually. Old and yellowed...and the frame is beautiful!

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    2. I was thinking the exact same thing. I looked at the stained glass one and I thought "Oh!" but then the colour sort of bothered me a bit after seeing this version first.

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  13. You've got a bargain there, Betsy. Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is lovely, isn't it? And always more interesting when you know a little bit about it.

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  14. It clicked with me when you said it was Hope. I have a book about the stained glass glass windows of the Arts and Crafts Movement of which Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris where leading figures. I looked through it this morning and found it. All it says is it is in St Margaret's Church, Hopton-on-Sea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This auction had lots of Arts and Crafts pieces in it...the owners of the estate must have been collectors. There were even three original Frank Lloyd Wright windows that went for quite a bit money. How far are you from Hopton-On-Sea? Quite a ways to the east, I imagine.

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  15. Came back to see this post again and was glad to see the update. It is a beautiful piece.

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    Replies
    1. It is pretty, isn't it? It reminds me of things that used to be in my grandparent's home when I was just a little girl.

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  16. Beautiful- and interesting to find out history of it.

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    Replies
    1. I never would have been able to figure it out without the internet...

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  17. Burne Jones is a very famous artist, so you have quite a piece of work there - as you have already figured out!! It is beautiful! xx

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  18. Hi Betsy. Thanks for getting in touch again (if you'd like to re-post your comment on my site, using my new name: "Joel", I'll be very pleased to accept it). If you do a Google search for "The Beguiling of Merlin" on Wikipedia, you will see that the model was Maria Zambaco, who was his mistress allegedly. Her face looks very similar to the one on your's. I've photographed some stained glass church windows in Nottingham, which I think were designed by Burne-Jones. If you Google-search for Flickr Mr Joel's Photography and then look through my albums, you will see the stained glass album.
    Lovely to hear from you again, and to read your latest blogposts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll come resubmit my comment only if you tell me why you changed your name. You aren't a criminal on the run, are you? :)

      Thanks for the info on my print and model...very interesting!

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  19. Well, I've "come out" to family and friends that I'm a blogger, and they know me better by my pet name: "Joel".
    As you will have seen, I've also started a new site with WordPress which is designed for photographers (it's the
    Nitisha theme)... which I think look a lot better than my old Blogger one.

    ReplyDelete

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