The Long Engagement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
| The Long Engagement |
| Arthur Hughes, 1854-59 |
| Oil on canvas |
| 105.4 × 52.1 cm cm |
| Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham |
The Long Engagement is a painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Arthur Hughes which was created between 1854 and 1859. The painting was originally titled "Orlando".[1]
The painting depicts a curate and his fiancée in a woodland setting.
The title refers to middle class social conventions of the time, in particular the fact that the parents of a girl engaged to a poorly paid curate would typically not allow the marriage until he had secured a more remunerative position within the church hierarchy. The girl is depicted looking at her own name (Amy) carved, some while ago, into the trunk of the tree by her fiancé as an expression of his love. It is about to be covered over by ivy, growing up the trunk, symbolising the loss of youthful passion. The theme is similar to Hughes' earlier painting April Love.
The painting was given to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in the will of a "Dr Griffiths" in 1902, and has remained in the collection to present day.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Arthur Hughes: Pre-Raphaelite painter and book illustrator
- ^ The Long Engagement by Arthur Hughes at VictorianartinBritain.co.uk.
 |
This painting-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
