Details

Object type

painting

Title

Two Strings to Her Bow

Artist/Maker

John Pettie artist

Culture/School

Scottish

Date

1887

Materials

oil on canvas

Dimensions

framed: 1250 x 1618 x 115 mm;unframed: 826 mm x 1194 mm x 37900 g

Description

The Victorians loved anecdotes, or pictures that told a story, and Pettie's pictures were extremely popular because of their frivolous or light-hearted nature. His work was almost always historical or literary in content, so although this picture was painted in 1887, the three central characters wear Regency costumes dating from around 1815 to 1820. Period costume pieces were extremely popular with middle-class patrons at this time. They evoked a cosy age of certainty, charm and simplicity.

Pettie has given us just enough landscape details to establish the setting of a country lane, but all attention is focused on his central characters. Its great appeal lies in the contented expression on the girl's face. Unfortunately, the poses and gestures of her two companions suggest that they are not at ease with the situation. They turn away from each other in a disgruntled manner, no doubt wishing that their rival was not there.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted by Sir John Muir, 1888

ID Number

663

Location

Kelvingrove Every Picture Tells a Story Gallery