Lot Essay
The picture is the centre panel of a triptych depicting The Legend of Pandora in which 'affrighted, Pandora attempts to veil from her sight, by means of a white drapery, the pestiferous cloud of vapour, the withering rose-leaves, and other effects of her fateful curiousity' (Art Journal, 1901, loc. cit.). The left panel, Evil Sought, in which Pandora is seen about to open the jar of tribulations which overwhelm her in the centre panel, was offered at Christie's in London, 6 November 1995, lot 125, while the right panel, Evil Wrought, appeared at Sotheby's Belgravia, London, 13 December 1984, lot 141. The triptych as a whole is illustrated in the Art Journal (loc. cit.), and the frame for the present picture, as with Evil Sought, appears to have been made out of the original tripartite frame as seen in that publication. F.G. Stephens writing in the Athenaeum, (loc. cit.), thought the picture 'pretty, and excels, so artificial is it, as an illustration of what may be called the confectionary of art'.
Ernest Normand was initially destined by his parents for the law, and to this end, although born in London, he was educated in Germany. It was in Germany that his interest in art was awakened, and while working in his father's office he simultaneously studied at St. Martin's. Having spent time drawing from the antique in the British Museum, in 1880 he abandoned the law to enter the Royal Academy Schools, where he received special encouragement from John Pettie. Further training was undertaken in Paris in 1890 in the studios of Constant and Lefebvre. Having made his debut at the Royal Academy in 1881 he continued to exhibit there until 1904. In 1884 he married the painter Henrietta Rae. They lived together in Kensington near Leighton, whose influence on their art was profound.
Ernest Normand was initially destined by his parents for the law, and to this end, although born in London, he was educated in Germany. It was in Germany that his interest in art was awakened, and while working in his father's office he simultaneously studied at St. Martin's. Having spent time drawing from the antique in the British Museum, in 1880 he abandoned the law to enter the Royal Academy Schools, where he received special encouragement from John Pettie. Further training was undertaken in Paris in 1890 in the studios of Constant and Lefebvre. Having made his debut at the Royal Academy in 1881 he continued to exhibit there until 1904. In 1884 he married the painter Henrietta Rae. They lived together in Kensington near Leighton, whose influence on their art was profound.