Young England - A Fisher Boy
Watercolour
1860 (painted)
1860 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Sentimental paintings of children were extremely popular with Victorian audiences. Critics often dismissed such pictures as intellectually undemanding, yet some of the most important artists of the day took up the subject. The emotion of these pictures centre on a new, 19th -century conception of childhood as an innocent, separate state to be shielded and prolonged. They seek a protective, affectionate pang from the viewer and evoke nostalgia for the inevitably fleeting nature of childhood.
This boy charms the viewer with his round pink face and incongruously serious expression and stance. The title points to the idea of childhood as a symbol of promise for the future. The delicate brush work and glowing colouring contribute to the rosiness of the image
This boy charms the viewer with his round pink face and incongruously serious expression and stance. The title points to the idea of childhood as a symbol of promise for the future. The delicate brush work and glowing colouring contribute to the rosiness of the image
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Young England - A Fisher Boy (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Watercolour by Alfred Downing Fripp entitled 'Young England - a Fisher Boy'. Great Britain, 1860. |
| Physical description | Watercolour of a fisher boy standing with his hands in his pockets. The backround is a seascape with white cliffs. Signed and dated, "Alfred D Fripp 60". |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | This boy charms the viewer with his round pink face and incongruously serious expression and stance. The title points to the idea of childhood as a symbol of promise for the future. The delicate brush work and glowing colouring contribute to the rosiness of the image(December 2006) |
| Credit line | Prescott Hewett Gift |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Sentimental paintings of children were extremely popular with Victorian audiences. Critics often dismissed such pictures as intellectually undemanding, yet some of the most important artists of the day took up the subject. The emotion of these pictures centre on a new, 19th -century conception of childhood as an innocent, separate state to be shielded and prolonged. They seek a protective, affectionate pang from the viewer and evoke nostalgia for the inevitably fleeting nature of childhood. This boy charms the viewer with his round pink face and incongruously serious expression and stance. The title points to the idea of childhood as a symbol of promise for the future. The delicate brush work and glowing colouring contribute to the rosiness of the image |
| Bibliographic reference | Coombs, Katherine British watercolours : 1750-1950 . London: V&A Publications, 2012
p.105, pl.96 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 397-1891 |
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| Record created | January 4, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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