拍品專文
Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron (written c. 1351) is a tale of seven beautiful ladies and three young men who fled the plague-ridden Florence in 1348 to a rural haven. There they laughed, danced and told stories to each other, crowning the 'ruler' of the day with a poet's laurel wreath. Since the Renaissance, many artists have found inspiration within its covers. Francis Swithin Anderton's Souvenir de Boccace shows the young men with their loved ones enjoying a festive lunch before the afternoon's story telling. It is interesting to note that Anderton depicted the scene in a loggia, whilst most contemporary artists who treated the theme, such as J.W. Waterhouse and Byam Shaw, place it in al fresco setting, as most commonly described by Boccaccio.
The picture was exhibited in the 17th Summer Exhibition of the New Gallery in London, where Anderton showed several works during his career. Although he exhibited mainly in England, at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and the Royal Society of British Artists amongst other places, most of his paintings were submitted with French titles.
The picture was exhibited in the 17th Summer Exhibition of the New Gallery in London, where Anderton showed several works during his career. Although he exhibited mainly in England, at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and the Royal Society of British Artists amongst other places, most of his paintings were submitted with French titles.