JOHN ATKINSON GRIMSHAW (BRITISH, 1836-1893)
JOHN ATKINSON GRIMSHAW (BRITISH, 1836-1893)

ELAINE: 'AND THE DEAD, STEER'D BY THE DUMB WENT UPWARD WITH THE FLOOD' - TENNYSON, IDYLLS OF THE KINGS

Details
JOHN ATKINSON GRIMSHAW (BRITISH, 1836-1893)
ELAINE: 'AND THE DEAD, STEER'D BY THE DUMB
WENT UPWARD WITH THE FLOOD'
- TENNYSON, IDYLLS OF THE KINGS
SIGNED AND DATED '1877+/ATKINSON GRIMSHAW' (LOWER RIGHT) AND SIGNED AND INSCRIBED 'ELAINE "AND THE DEAD, STEER'D BY THE DUMB/WENT UPWARD WITH THE FLOOD" IDYLLS OF THE KINGS - TENNYSON/ATKINSON GRIMSHAW 1877 +' ON THE STRETCHER
OIL ON CANVAS
32¾ X 48 IN. (83.2 X 121.9 CM.)
PAINTED IN 1877
Literature
A. ROBERTSON, ATKINSON GRIMSHAW, OXFORD, 1988, P. 59 (ILLUSTRATED PL. 56).

Lot Essay

ELAINE AND LANCELOT IS ONE OF A SERIES OF PICTURES EXECUTED BY GRIMSHAW IN THE 1870S BASED ON THEMES FROM CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE. CONSIDERING THESE WORKS, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON HAS WRITTEN: 'ONE OF THE STRANGEST OF THESE PAINTINGS IS ELAINE, WHICH FOLLOWS A TEXT FROM TENNYSON'S IDYLLS OF THE KING. GRIMSHAW GIVES US 'THE DUMB OLD SERVITOR, ON THE DECK,/WINKING HIS EYES AND TWISTING ALL HIS FACE'. ELAINE HERSELF IS SHOWN, 'IN HER RIGHT HAND THE LILY, IN HER LEFT/THE LETTER - ALL HER BRIGHT HAIR STREAMING DOWN'. THE POEM WAS ILLUSTRATED BY GUSTAVE DORé IN THE MOXON EDITION OF 1877, AND CERTAIN SIMILARITIES BETWEEN GRIMSHAW'S PAINTING AND THE PUBLISHED ENGRAVING CAN BE SEEN' (A. ROBERTSON, ATKINSON GRIMSHAW, LONDON, 1988, P. 59).

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALEXANDER ROBERTSON OF LEEDS CITY ART GALLERY, FOR HIS ASSISTANCE IN PREPARING THIS ENTRY.

More from IMPRESSIONIST & 19TH CENTURY ART

View All
View All