Benjamin West paints Guy Johnson (1775) half in his red-coat and half in his Mohawk gear. Yay or Nay?
[National Gallery, Washington]
Showing posts with label Benjamin West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benjamin West. Show all posts
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Yay or Nay? Guy Johnson
Last week, William Wollaston came very close to breaking our latest run of yays but despite the simplicity of colors in his dress he prevailed with a Yay. Black and white seemed to bore many so this week I have a selection with slightly more pizazz as far as menswear goes.
Benjamin West paints Guy Johnson (1775) half in his red-coat and half in his Mohawk gear. Yay or Nay?
Benjamin West paints Guy Johnson (1775) half in his red-coat and half in his Mohawk gear. Yay or Nay?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Yay or Nay? Grace Peel
Does anyone have the craving for pink frosted cupcakes? I blame the Baroness de Neubourg-Cromiere who earned a Yay for her Queen Frostine meets Glinda gown. After such a flouncy princess outfit I can't help but put forth a foil for our judging pleasure.
Benjamin West paints (allegedly) Grace Peel (1757/8) in her simple mustard gown and unique lace throwback to previous centuries accessories. Yay or Nay?
Benjamin West paints (allegedly) Grace Peel (1757/8) in her simple mustard gown and unique lace throwback to previous centuries accessories. Yay or Nay?
[Winterthur Museum]
[Image source and great article]
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Festooning the Bust of Hymen
It would seem pretty sacrilegious if young virgins of English nobility really decorated the bust of the god of marriage before their marriages. The depiction of them doing so, however, was a popular theme in portraiture. Not only was it a Romantic notion but also a nod toward the Classical.
Hymen or Hymenaios was usually depicted as wearing flower garlands, which may of had something to do with the ritual of decorating his term to gain his favors. Eighteenth century ladies would be depicted in such form to commemorate their marriage. When a term of Hymen was not to be had women, such as Lady Harrington, would pay tribute in their marriage commemorations by being portrayed with a garland. Lady Keppel's portrayal is probably the most well-known of these depictions. She was a lady of Queen Charlotte's and is portrayed in the gown she wore at the coronation, or perhaps wedding (I can't remember specifically!). The results are always a stunning result of motion and color displaying the sitters at their best, to show the triumph of the future bridegroom in snagging such a great catch!
Joshua Reynolds, Lady Elizabeth Keppel, 1761
Joshua Reynolds, Ladies Adorning a Term of Hymen, 1773
Benjamin West, Lady Beauchamp-Proctor, 1778
Hymen or Hymenaios was usually depicted as wearing flower garlands, which may of had something to do with the ritual of decorating his term to gain his favors. Eighteenth century ladies would be depicted in such form to commemorate their marriage. When a term of Hymen was not to be had women, such as Lady Harrington, would pay tribute in their marriage commemorations by being portrayed with a garland. Lady Keppel's portrayal is probably the most well-known of these depictions. She was a lady of Queen Charlotte's and is portrayed in the gown she wore at the coronation, or perhaps wedding (I can't remember specifically!). The results are always a stunning result of motion and color displaying the sitters at their best, to show the triumph of the future bridegroom in snagging such a great catch!
Joshua Reynolds, Lady Elizabeth Keppel, 1761Joshua Reynolds, Ladies Adorning a Term of Hymen, 1773Benjamin West, Lady Beauchamp-Proctor, 1778
Monday, February 1, 2010
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