A Garland

Albert Joseph Moore ARWS 1841 - 1893

Summary

Classical scene of two young women, both dressed in soft red Grecian robes with a garland of flowers about their shoulders. They appear to be standing between two classical pillars at the entrance to a temple with a mosaic tiled floor. The taller of the two, on the left, stands with one arm about her companion's shoulders, looking upwards with a reflective expression, whilst her companion gazes up at her.

Display Label

A Garland 1887 - 88 Albert Joseph Moore 1841 - 93 Oil on canvas Moore has posed two girls in a classical setting. One leans on a marble pillar around which are twisted some embroidered hangings, possibly of his design. On its base is the artist’s emblematic signature – the anthemion, a Greek motif based on the honeysuckle. A bowl on the marble pavement contains two marigolds which, like sunflowers, always turn to the sun. The girls also look towards the light. They wear long garlands, possibly made of myrtle, a plant sacred to Venus, symbolising everlasting love. Moore was uninterested in storytelling or realism, his main focus being colour, harmony and beauty. This painting is untypical because of its strong colour and suggestion of emotion in the facial expressions. One 19th century critic described his work as ‘A timely protest against the vulgar naturalism… which is applauded by the uneducated multitudes who throng our London exhibitions’. James Gresham gift 1917.255