Edward Killingworth JohnsonEnglish
Drawing
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Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the work
Object Type
Paintings with narrative subjects were very popular with the Victorian public. The majority preferred sentimental themes, especially those that showed pathos.
Subjects Depicted
In the second half of the 19th century Queen Victoria (reigned 1837-1901) was the dominant popular image of widowhood after the death of her husband, Prince Albert (1819-1861). Indeed the Victorians created a cult of mourning, and the rules it produced placed restrictions on women in particular. A properly observed widowhood involved a prolonged absence from social events and activities. Rules on dress meant that all colour and ornament should be avoided until a proper (and long) interval had elapsed. In this painting the wedding dress is a symbol of the widow's recent loss. It also represents the youthful pleasures and future happiness that were now denied to her.
People
Read on
Edward Killingworth Johnson (1825-1896) was a self-taught painter and specialised in contemporary scenes of everyday life. This work, probably his masterpiece, conveys a genuine pathos and arouses sympathy for the plight of the young widow. This painting was given to the Museum's collection by James Laver (1899-1975), who was the Keeper of the Department of Prints and Drawings and the author of many books, particularly of the history of costume.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- E.808-1959
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 10 days ago
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
