Wednesday, January 21, 2009

William Holman Hunt - The Shy Sitter


Watercolour
bought by Ruskin in 1859 as 'Country Girl'
now in the Harris Museum, Preston

3 comments:

Lucy Corrander said...

This is lovely.

It has immediately become one of my favourite paintings.

I hadn't twigged you have this blog too - and I very, very much like the Pre-Raphaelites.

Not surprising, I suppose, given the richness of colour and all the backstories involved. I don't think they could have painted like this before the camera was invented. Never mind Raphael - they are really 'we-see-things-differently-because-we-have-looked-at-photographs-ists.

(Having said which - this particular painting brings Holbein to mind.)

Incidentally, you say you are a consultant but not in the art trade. It would be really interesting to know what you consult in . . . if that is not too intrusive to ask.

Lucy

(P.S. I very much like your new icon.)

Hermes said...

Thanks Lucy. I used to be an IT Consultant but am retired now and involved in a lot of voluntary work including running a Heritage Centre and hopefully setting up a Community Art Gallery in thus area. I love the PRB and like my other blogs I just have so much material and pictures that I couldn't see were on the Internet but I thought might interest others.

Sparky said...

Hi,

The artist for this watercolor was actually William Henry Hunt (1790-1864) rather than William Holman Hunt. There has been much confusion over the years between the two artists, which is the reason why everyone began referring to the earlier man, who had, during his lifetime been known merely as William Hunt, by his full name. Unfortunately, his middle name, Henry, caused him to have the same initials as William Holeman Hunt. And the fact that John Ruskin was an advocate for both artists has resulted in even greater confusion.

Actually, the Pre-Raphaelites were influenced by William Henry Hunt's innovative technique of laying down his watercolors on a ground of pure Chinese white pigment, resulting in more vibrant colors than one usually encounters with watercolor paintings.

In any event, William Henry Hunt should be credited for this work, which he certainly painted.

Craig Englund