An extended tour of the Middle East proves exhausting, but results in two outstanding paintings. Then Dadd’s world falls apart.
painting
One famous painting of Hypatia, based on Queen Victoria’s favourite novel, and a handful of others – a fascinating glimpse of a promising artist.
One of the first dedicated landscape specialists who met the rising demand for ‘views’, his figures reveal his true interest in his motifs.
The North Wind carries off his betrothed, in eight superb paintings by Rubens, Boucher, Evelyn De Morgan, and others. A miniature history of painting.
To celebrate his bicentenary, here are some early works, including some of his ‘faerie paintings’ of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
This wonderful late oil sketch by Rubens shows a man walking his dog on a Mediterranean beach. It tells a fascinating story of an ancient industry, and the dress of the most wealthy and privileged few.
The winter saw two of his finest and most important paintings, The Jack Pine and The West Wind – both painted in the studio. But he still painted outdoors as much as he could.
After a winter working on decorative panels, he had another successful and productive season painting outdoors in Algonquin Park.
Like Poussin, most of his works are strongly narrative in intent. Did he paint any pure landscapes, or are all his figures actors in his stories?
More superb paintings from his most productive year, 1915, including wild flowers, different approaches to autumn, and a snowstorm.
The Eclectic Light Company 