Information

The painting is filled with Arts and Crafts motifs, popular with the Birmingham School of Art at this time. Ethel Newill who modelled for the figure on the right was a friend of Bunce's and came from a prominent artistic Birmingham family. Katie Palmer is the figure second from the right holding a staff and was also a friend of the artist. Margaret Louisa Wright modelled for the throned figure and was Bunce's cousin. It is recorded in her diary that she was asked to sit replacing an ill model.It is based on a poem by Rossetti and was first shown with this quotation:'Then stepped a damsel to her side,And spoke and needs must weep:'For his sake, lady, if he died,He prayed of thee to keepThis staff and scrip'.

  • Bequeathed by Kate Elizabeth Bunce, 1928.
  • © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Makers

Association Artist Organisation
Artist Kate Elizabeth Bunce -

Inscriptions

Type Position(s) Method Date(s) Notes
KB
Monogram bottom left Handwritten - Inscription in brown paint.
 

Exhibitions

Catalogue No. Venue Date(s)
-
- New Gallery 1901 - 1901
- Birmingham School of Music 1965-09 - 1965-09
 
-
- New Gallery 1901 - 1901
- Birmingham School of Music 1965-09 - 1965-09
 
Painting Women: Victorian Women Artists
- Rochdale Art Gallery 1987-03 - 1987
 
Pre-Raphaelite Women Artists
73 Manchester City Art Gallery 1997-11-22 - 1998-02-22
73 Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 1998-03-07 - 1998-05-25
73 Southampton City Art Gallery 1998-06-06 - 1998-08-02
 
International Arts and Crafts
- Victoria & Albert Museum 2005-03-17 - 2005-07-24
 

Literature

Author(s) Date(s) Publisher Pages
Gazette des Beaux-Arts
1901 - p.165
 
Pall Mall Gazette Extra
1901 - p.110
 
Painting Women: Victorian Women Artists
Deborah Cherry 1987 Rochdale Art Gallery, Rochdale -
 
Pre-Raphaelite Women Artists
Jan Marsh, Pamela Gerrish Nunn 1998 Thames and Hudson, London p.147, pl.73
 
The Art of the Pre-Raphaelites
Elizabeth Prettejohn 2000 Tate Publishing, London p.127, pl.99

Associated people

Name Type
Ethel Newill Artist's model
Katie Palmer Artist's model
Margaret Louisa Wright Artist's model
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Inspired by

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