Sujet

The International Exhibition: marble statue - "Purity" by Matthew Noble, 1862. Creator: Mason Jackson.

Légende

The International Exhibition: marble statue - "Purity" by Matthew Noble, 1862. '...we may say that there is a sort of double conventionalism in the abstract representations of the virtues and vices. They are the result of an advanced stage of civilisation in a nation...In the whole range of these abstractions there is not one perhaps so peculiarly eligible for sculpturesque treatment as the subject of the statue we have engraved. The spotless colour of marble and the delicacy of its crystalline texture are directly suggestive of purity, and a favourite figure with the poets, as Shakspeare has it, "pure as monumental alabaster." The age and sex our artist has chosen is the sweetest embodiment of his theme. The purity of infancy is mere vacuity, that of maidenhood is a vestal garb worn "unspotted from the world." Mr. Noble has dealt with his subject very artistically. The attitude is graceful without affectation. The expression is as simple and chaste as it is beautiful. Though very appropriate, it hardly needed for its explanatory value the action of placing the symbolical lily on the equally spotless virginal bosom. There is nothing in the treatment of the hair and drapery which does not harmonise with the conception'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.

Date

1862

Crédit

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Notre référence

HRM24A09_015

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

20,4Mo (1,1Mo) / 15,8cm x 32,3cm / 1865 x 3818 (300dpi)

Mots clés

nature female women woman people child children girl girls event flower flowers plant plants stone arts femininity body bodies virgin statue statues sculpture art purity British feet foot color lily lilies marble dress Victorian century Britain newspapers press barefoot print concept exhibition APPAREL B&W full length sentimental stereotype full-length bare feet gender engraved engraving Colour allegory drapery 19th century lilium black & white black and white B W allegorical white and black allegorical figure nineteenth century The Print Collector artistic school cultural event Illustrated London News stereotyping the body World's Fair ILN newspaper object young women young woman Mason Jackson Jackson Mason Great London Exposition International Exhibition of 1862 19th-century clothing & dress fashion & clothing M. Jackson Jackson M. Matthew Noble Noble Matthew 1862 International Exhibition