A Dress Rehearsal

Frederick Barnard 1846 - 1896

Summary

Interior scene depicting a man and a young boy in an attic room, preparing for a circus performance. The man sits on an old wooden chair to the left, cross legged with his right hand on his chin; he looks pensive as he watches the young boy practice acrobatic tricks on an old rug. Beside the man is a wooden box containing circus equipment, and about the room, ragged clothes hang from a makeshift washing line and an open door. In the background below a wooden shelf, a small dog wearing a frilled ruff sits on large drum in watching the rehearsal. The attic room is dark and undecorated with only a small window to the far left.

Display Label

A Dress Rehearsal 1868 Frederick Barnard 1846-96 Oil on panel Being a street acrobat was an acceptable occupation for a member of the Victorian underclass. This picture gives a glimpse behind the scenes. The gymnastic accessories, the dog and the drum all enliven an otherwise dull attic. The father is thoughtful and the son healthy: their existence does not seem too bleak. The artist’s need to sell his paintings made this palatable gloss on poverty necessary: no patron wanted suffering in their drawing room. Barnard specialised in scenes of working class life. He illustrated the works of Charles Dickens and contributed drawings to many magazines. Mrs C S Garnett bequest 1936.117