The Milkmaid
Watercolour
1860 (painted)
1860 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
During his lifetime Myles Birket Foster (1825-1899) established himself as a watercolour painter who specialised in rural scenes. His paintings were very popular, particularly with an urban audience who wanted to believe in the idea of a countryside inhabited by people who were happy and contented with their work. In reality, the 19th century was a time of hardship for agricultural workers and their families.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Milkmaid (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour |
| Brief description | 'The Milkmaid', watercolour, by Myles Birket Foster, Britain; 1860. |
| Physical description | Watercolour of a pastoral scene depicting a woman holding a basket on her head, set in a rural landscape. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by John Jones |
| Object history | The Milkmaid is Birkett Foster's most famous composition and occupies an important place in the history of the theme of the milkmaid as a symbol of vulnerable innocence and youthful beauty. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | During his lifetime Myles Birket Foster (1825-1899) established himself as a watercolour painter who specialised in rural scenes. His paintings were very popular, particularly with an urban audience who wanted to believe in the idea of a countryside inhabited by people who were happy and contented with their work. In reality, the 19th century was a time of hardship for agricultural workers and their families. |
| Bibliographic reference | 100 Great Paintings in The Victoria & Albert Museum. London: V&A, 1985, p.160 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 520-1882 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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