The Music Party

(click to enlarge)

Elihu Vedder

(American, 1836-1923)

The Music Party, 1871

Oil on board

Head of a Lady in Medieval Costume

(click to enlarge)

Lucien Victor Guirand de Scévola

(French, 1871-1950)

Head of a Lady in Medieval Costume, 1900

Pencil and watercolor

Song of Love

(click to enlarge)

Edward Burne-Jones

(British, 1833-1898)

Le Chant d'Amor (Song of Love), 1868-77

Oil on canvas

From Russel Ash's book Sir Edward Burne-Jones:

Here an ancient Breton song that was probably known to Georgiana [Burne-Jone's wife] provides the subject and the title for the painting: Hélas! je sais un chant d'amor/Triste ou gai, Tour á tour (Alas, I know a love song/Sad or merry, each in turn). The work depicts an organist with a figure representing Love working the bellows. The figure of Love is sightless ('love is blind'), while Burne-Jones's abiding interest in the language of flowers is manifest un the painting, where tulips (symbolizing 'ardent love') and wallflowers ('bitterness') jointly represent the contradictory emotions expressed in the song.

The Madness of Sir Tristram

(click to enlarge)

Edward Burne-Jones

(British, 1833-1898)

The Madness of Sir Tristram, 1862

Watercolor and bodycolor

I've summed up the story of Tristan and Isolde in past posts, but I can't find any information on the part of the story this painting depicts! It's such an interesting painting and I'd love to know the story, so if anyone knows what's going on, let me know! Anyway, give this painting a good look. I love how graceful the poses are.

Mary of Burgundy

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Michael Pacher

(English, 1430-1498)

Mary of Burgundy, 1490

Oil on wood

She has an adorable nose!

Tristan and Isolde with the Potion

 (click to enlarge)

John William Waterhouse

(English, 1849-1917)

Tristan and Isolde with the Potion, 1916

Oil on canvas

I posted another painting of the same subject awhile back, and you can read the story there.  Take a moment to enlarge the painting and notice how loosely it is painted, especially the background.

The Three Princesses

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Edward Matthew Hale

(English, 1852-1924)

The Three Princesses, 1881

Oil on canvas

Sir Galahad

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Sir Joseph Noel Paton

(English, 1821-1901)

Sir Galahad, ????

Oil on canvas

Galahad the pure knight again!

Stitching the Standard

(click to enlarge)

Edmund Blair Leighton

(English, 1853-1922)

Stitching the Standard, 1911

Oil on canvas

This painting is so gorgeous! I love the colors, the way she's perched on the wall, and the tiny glimpse of her shoes! The colors seem a bit unusual to me (you don't usually see so much yellow and black together) but it works so well! I get an impression of sweetness and strength.

Sir Galahad

(click to enlarge)

George Frederick Watts

(English, 1817-1904)

Sir Galahad, 1862

Oil on canvas

Tristan and Isolde

(click to enlarge)

John Duncan

(Scottish, 1866-1945)

Tristan and Isolde, 1912

Medium unknown

So pretty! I love the folds of Isolde's dress and the strands of her hair flying in the wind.  For anyone who doesn't already know the story, Tristan is bringing Isolde to Cornwall, where she is to marry his uncle, King Mark. But they accidentally drink a love potion and end up falling madly in love, with depressing results.

The Sewing Box

 

(click to enlarge)

Mary L. Gow

(English, 1851-1929)

The Sewing Box, 1880

Oil on canvas

I love the details. The embroidery frame, the tapestry, the folds of the fabrics . . . definitely a painting to enlarge and explore!

Heraldic Chivalry

 
(click to enlarge)

Alphonse Mucha

(Czechoslovakian, 1860-1939)

Heraldic Chivalry, ????

Oil on canvas

The Symbol

(click to enlarge)

Sir Frank Dicksee
(English, 1853-1928)
The Symbol, 1881
Oil on canvas

The full title is continued "Is it Nothing to You, All Ye That Pass By?" That, and taking a closer look, make the painting's story plain.

The End of the Quest

(click to enlarge)

Sir Frank Dicksee
(English, 1853-1928)
The End of the Quest, 1921
Oil on canvas

I won't say anything about the story, I'll leave everyone to their own romantic musings. ;) But, I will point out that the marble is really beautifully and skillfully rendered. 

The Lady Clare

 (click to enlarge)

John William Waterhouse

(English, 1849-1917)

The Lady Clare, 1900

Oil on canvas

I love the pinks and browns in this painting. And that sweet pink rose in her hair! She's from Tennyson's poem The Lady Clare. Here's the part the painting depicts:

She clad herself in a russet gown,
She was no longer Lady Clare:
She went by dale, and she went by down,
With a single rose in her hair.

The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought
Leapt up from where she lay,
Dropt her head in the maiden's hand,
And follow'd her all the way.

Joan of Arc

(click to enlarge)

Jules Bastien-Lepage
(French, 1848-1884)
Joan of Arc, 1879

Oil on canvas

I think this is a pretty cool painting. Enlarge the picture and see if you can spot the saints. ;)

Miranda - The Tempest

(click to enlarge) 

John William Waterhouse

(English, 1849-1917)

Miranda - The Tempest, 1916

Oil on canvas

    If by your art, my dearest father, you have
    Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
    The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
    But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
    Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffered
    With those that I saw suffer: a brave vessel,
    Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her,
    Dash'd all to pieces.
    (The Tempest, I.ii.1–8)

This painting shows Miranda (from Shakespeare's The Tempest) watching a ship toss and turn in a storm Prospero (her father) created purposely to crash the ship.

It was hard to find a high quality photo of this painting and, though the one above is very nice, I think the coloring might be a bit off. So here is a smaller photo with brighter colors:

I love how her hair and her dress are flying in the wind. You can definitely tell there's a tempest happening! And the painting fits the text so well. Just look at how her hand is against her heart,

O, the cry did knock

Against my very heart.

(The Tempest, I.ii.8–9)

The Green Lizard

(click to enlarge)

Charles E Perugini

(English, 1839-1918)

The Green Lizard (also known as The Lizard Charmer), 1902

Oil on canvas

Such a gorgeously sunny day! What better way to spend it then . . . . playing music to a lizard. 

The Enchanted Garden (Welcome!)

I had a lot of trouble picking the painting for today. I wanted a painting that would really represent the kind of feeling I wanted the blog to have. And I think I found one that does that very well!

(click to enlarge) 

John William Waterhouse

(English, 1849-1917)

The Enchanted Garden, 1916

Oil on canvas

Waterhouse died before completing this painting, but even unfinished it's lovely. Did you notice the sprinkling of snow flurrying in from the outside? Even while it's frigid outside, the garden is calm, warm, and enchanting! That's how I would like this blog to be, an enchanted garden of sorts. Where, no matter how gold and gray it is outside, you can find beauty. This does not mean every painting I post is going to be full of flowers and pretty dresses (though probably a lot of them will be!). I hope there will be some variety. But you can help me with that! Please, leave comments! Tell me what you think of the paintings, and feel free to recommend other artists and paintings! And please, try to tolerate my terrible writing skills and affinity for smilie faces. :)

Welcome to The Daily Painting!