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Romance online exhibition
Oil on canvas, 1865
Accession number WAG 943
Zoom into the detail of this painting
Signed and dated: JC HORSLEY 1865 (centre, on tablecloth).
A young lady holds a valentine letter in her hand. Her head, framed by a magnificent cascade of hair, is tossed back as she compares her likeness in the mirror on the table with the qualities apparently attributed to her by her admirer in the letter. The Victorian public greatly admired the romantic nature of this painting.
John Callcott Horsley was a leading exhibitor at the Royal Academy. He was particularly well known for his scenes from Shakespeare and other poets.
This is a version of the painting exhibited by Horsley at the 1863 Royal Academy exhibition. Many versions exist; there is one in the Wolverhampton Art Gallery and also one in Touchstones, Rochdale (Rochdale Art Gallery).
Presented to the Walker Art Gallery collections by George Audley in 1925.
Detail of signature on tablecloth
This is just one of the romantic images available in our Valentine e-card selection. Why not send it to the one you love?