William Frith (British 1819-1909)

The Young Mother
oil on canvas, signed lower left "W.P. Frith"

Provenance:
Johnson Art Galleries, Montreal #2746
Uno Langmann Limited, Vancovuer #13352
Private Collection, West Vancouver

One of the most popular artists of the Victorian era, William Frith specialized in precise historical and genre scenes depicting contemporary Victorian life. He was educated in London at Sass’s Academy in preparation for the Royal Academy where he was elected Associate at the age of twenty-five and full member in 1853. He would continue to exhibit at the Royal Academy until 1902. Frith’s large compositions depicting everyday English life gained him wide popularity, and Queen Victoria became an enthusiastic supporter. His work was regularly reproduced in print which added to his success.

Frith was regarded as one of the finest traditionalist artists of his time. Beyond his popular panorama scenes, his realistic paintings include portraits, literary scenes, anecdotal works and genre scenes. He used ordinary people in contemporary settings as models, including his own family, working ‘en plein air’ not from memory like other artists of the day. He excelled at creating highly finished works capturing in fine detail not only his subjects but also the delicate patterns and textures of their clothing and décor.

This delightful work is a superb example of Frith’s precise style and perfectly epitomizes the artist’s talent and skill in depicting highly finished figures and settings. The painting is centered around the mother and infant baby and the intimacy of their playful interaction. The scene is frozen in time and the charming and intimate interior elegantly curated; the room is beautifully composed, enhanced by the intricacy of the furnishings. The painting gives us a realistic glimpse into Victorian life and an upper-class parlour of the era.
Size: 12 h x 9 w (with frame 15.75 h x 21 w in)
J21849

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