The Origin of the Harp

Daniel Maclise R.A. 1806 - 1870

Summary

Oval painting of a naked sea nymph metamorphosing into a harp. She stands at the entrance to a grotto, knee-deep in the water, resting her right arm on a vertically protruding rock that stands just a little higher than her head, thus forming her arm into the outline of a harp. Her long hair, which streams with water, is draped in ringlets over this arm and down to the sea, forming the strings of the harp. A swag of seaweed curves round her jutting left hip, and a string of translucent pearls drapes her left arm, which is bent up to her head. Her outstretched third finger touches her temple, while her little finger is bent in. Her head is crowned with a tiara of white and green natural forms, which might be flowers or sea shells and leaves. Her eyelids are lowered while her irises are raised, leaving just a little of the white of her eyes visible. She leans her face away to the right. The mouth of the grotto is pearl grey and fringed with short stalactites that look like icicles. The nymph’s shadow is cast on the wall of the grotto to the right. A flat circular metal object gleams dully on a ledge to the front of the protruding rock, next to a strand of red seaweed. Several shells lie on the sand in front of the small pool in the foreground. The sky is dusky, half of the setting sun being visible across the sea. Bright stars form a constellation in the centre of the semi-circle of sky. The gilt frame has a moulded curling foliage pattern in a raised oval, with further large acanthus-type foliage swirls in each corner.

Display Label

The Origin of the Harp 1842 (removed from display) Daniel Maclise 1806-70 Oil on canvas This painting is based on a poem of the same name by Maclise's friend and fellow Irishman Thomas Moore. Based on Irish folklore it tells of a sea siren who weeps for a spurned lover. She is turned into a harp by the heavens. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy with the following lines from Moore: Still her bosom rose fair - still her cheek smiled the same, While her sea beauties curl'd round the frame; And her hair, shedding tear drops from all its bright rings, Fell over her white arms to make the gold strings. Maclise's eroticisation of the story drew comment. One reviewer found the siren to be 'a trifle too full in her form, and too rosy in her cheek.' James Gresham bequest 1917.269