Bhanavar The Beautiful
Watercolour
1894 (painted)
1894 (painted)
Artist/Maker |
This dramatic image of a woman dancing amidst writhing serpents was designed to illustrate George Meredith's The Story of Bhanavar the Beautiful, one of a collection of pseudo-oriental tales entitled The Shaving of Shagpat, an Arabian Entertainment (first edition, 1856). Bhanavar was the beautiful, innocent daughter of a Caucasian amir, who, having gained possession of the magic jewel (seen here adorning her forehead), became an evil Queen of the Serpents. The original monochrome version was commissioned from Sandys in 1864 by the publishers Chapman and Hall as the frontispiece for their second edition of the tales (1865). This watercolour, the second version, was painted by Sandys at Meredith's request, for him to present to a friend. It was reproduced in The Artist, Winter Number, 1896, and was also exhibited at the Royal Academy's Winter Exhibition in 1905. Book illustration formed a major part of Sandys's output. He contributed to several contemporary magazines, as well as to picture books and to editions of poetry, ballads, myths and legends. Originating in Norwich, he worked in London from 1851, where he was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, particularly Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his images of luxuriant female figures.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Bhanavar The Beautiful (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Water- and bodycolour over pencil |
Brief description | Watercolour, `Bhanavar The Beautiful', 1894, by Frederick Sandys |
Dimensions |
|
Styles | |
Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A |
Object history | According to Rodney Searight: - ; `Bt.fr. Abbott & Holder/Sotheby's Oct.1966, £11.' [Mrs. Walter Palmer; Sir Walter Palmer Bart. MP in 1905; C.W. Carey, sold at Christies 6 March 1911 (75), bt. by [?]Baynes for 6.16.6; Christie's, as The Girl Snake-Charmer (7)18/10/66.] |
Historical context | Reproduced in the The Artist, Winter No., November 18 1896, p.25. An illustration for George Meredith's The Shaving of Shagpat, an Arabian Entertainment. Probably done from the engraving, not the original drawing of 1864, which must have been either in monochrome or perhaps in red chalk, and which has not been traced. Sandys' original version of Bhanavar The Beautiful was commissioned by Chapman and Hall as a frontispiece for their second edition (1865) of Meredith's The Shaving of Shagpat. The copy made by Sandys in 1894 was done so at Meredith's request. For details of this commission and other information about both versions, see Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Frederick Sandys, exhibition catalogue, 1974, pp.48 and 49 (cat. nos. 293, 294, 302 and 303). See also Searight Archive. It was exhibited at the RA, Winter Ex.1905 (298), lent by Sir Walter Palmer. |
Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat, first published 1856. |
Summary | This dramatic image of a woman dancing amidst writhing serpents was designed to illustrate George Meredith's The Story of Bhanavar the Beautiful, one of a collection of pseudo-oriental tales entitled The Shaving of Shagpat, an Arabian Entertainment (first edition, 1856). Bhanavar was the beautiful, innocent daughter of a Caucasian amir, who, having gained possession of the magic jewel (seen here adorning her forehead), became an evil Queen of the Serpents. The original monochrome version was commissioned from Sandys in 1864 by the publishers Chapman and Hall as the frontispiece for their second edition of the tales (1865). This watercolour, the second version, was painted by Sandys at Meredith's request, for him to present to a friend. It was reproduced in The Artist, Winter Number, 1896, and was also exhibited at the Royal Academy's Winter Exhibition in 1905. Book illustration formed a major part of Sandys's output. He contributed to several contemporary magazines, as well as to picture books and to editions of poetry, ballads, myths and legends. Originating in Norwich, he worked in London from 1851, where he was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, particularly Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his images of luxuriant female figures. |
Collection | |
Accession number | SD.911 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | April 1, 2008 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest