19th century gallery

Part three

During the late 19th century the High Victorian concept of 'art for art's sake', where formal concerns were more important than narrative or moral content, influenced many artists. However, the taste for allegorical or instructional paintings also continued. This period produced many beautiful and richly painted works, a selection of which can be seen here.

Sculpture of a barechested man ‘The Mower’
William Thornycroft

woman and baby ‘Fantine’
Margaret Hall

men struggling with each other ‘Samson'
Solomon J Solomon

people watching a bonfire ‘The funeral of Shelley’
Louis Edouard Fournier

two women hovering in an icy landscape ‘The punishment of lust ’
Giovanni Segantini

young woman with wings ‘A sense of sight ’
Annie Louisa Swynnerton

woman dressed in a white dress ‘Ophelia’
Henrietta Rae

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