The Victorians saw the world changing. New technologies changed how we made and bought goods and Victorian era paintings show our tastes changing too. They let us see the new world that artists and museum visitors found themselves in.
Renaissance art was usually closely linked to power. Powerful people paid artists to create artworks which portrayed the image that they wanted. For the Victorians, this was still true, but works were often more emotional. They were used to show their morals and beliefs as well as show off their class.
Victorian Paintings were often of the family and loved ones, or even their beloved pets. This is really pretty similar to lots of art today, where a new set of tools and painting techniques have replaced classic traditions. For example, Pixels Photo Art’s digital artists continue the tradition of artists like Barber, creating Victorian-era paintings featuring beloved pets.
The modern artists realized that oil on canvas was no longer the only way of creating art. This didn’t mean they stopped painting; instead, they adapted, taking art and making it their own. New styles of painting grew, changing the art world.
While not as famous as Renaissance artwork, Victorian painting is a vital part of English art history.
How did Men and Women Want to be Portrayed in Victorian Society?
While art took on a softer feeling, it was still used as a way of showing the owner’s place in society. Portraits were hung in the home and proudly shown off to guests at parties. This allowed art owners to show off their wealth, status and class. All of these were powerful things in Victorian society.
Pictures of the owner and their family were often quite muted. They tried to show the model as sensitive and thoughtful. This was a big change from older styles. The best way for a Victorian man to be shown was as serious, sensitive and intelligent. Books and other signs of study were common in Victorian paintings of men. This is even true in pictures from the army which, in previous times, would have tried to show more strength than learning.
Victorian era paintings of women were often idealized. They were set against a rural backdrop or holding them up as the perfect example of a mother, even if this wasn’t really the case. This is best shown in paintings of the queen, Victoria herself. History tells us that she wasn’t very loving as a mom but you’d never guess from the pictures.
What Were the Most Important Themes?
Victorian paintings covered a range of topics. Pictures of important people were still popular but they weren’t the only paintings that you’d see.
Paintings of pets became popular during the 1600s. This style of painting continued through Victoria’s rule. In fact, it grew and took on new meanings.
Paintings of dogs by artists like Barber became very popular. These focused on the spirit of the animals and often made them more human. Think dogs smoking pipes or reading books. They were a bit like a Victorian meme. This style of fun art is still popular today.
Another common type of picture was still life. The famous Victorian era flower paintings are some of the best examples. These paintings gave artists the chance to show off their skills. They also gave their customers a way to highlight their taste and class.
There were still paintings of scenes from history and myths but they took new forms. Scenes from plays and classic books were becoming favorite subjects for artists. These were often pictures from the stories of King Arthur. Scenes from Shakespeare’s plays were also very common. These give art buyers the chance to show off their culture and class.
Where myths were shown in Victorian art, it was just as likely to show characters from English stories as it was Greek.
Paintings of the family, nature, city life and the issues of the day were also often topics covered. Military scenes from the empire also gave viewers a patriotic thrill.
The Most Famous Victorian Era Paintings
The most famous Victorian paintings are of Queen Victoria. There are a lot to choose from but the most famous were done by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. He worked with the queen and royal family often to make some of the time’s best pictures. He earned a name as the court painter across Europe.
Mailias’s painting of Ophelia from Hamlet is one of the most well-known images from the time. While we may think of it as a masterpiece, the Victorians were shocked. The painting is packed with meaning, from the flowers to the way she holds her hands.
Another famous painting from Shakespeare’s work is Midsummer Eve by Hughs. This mixed the Victorian love of English folklore with the status of a work based on the greatest English writer.
Landseer’s animal paintings include one of the most famous pictures of Scotland ever painted. Called The Monarch of The Glen, it shows the Victorian love of Scottish culture. This image is so vital that the National Gallery of Scotland recently led an effort to buy it for the nation. It now hangs in their Edinburgh museum.
Who Were the Most Famous Victorian Artists?
While they aren’t famous in the same way that the artists of the Renaissance are, the Victorian age produced lots of noteworthy painters.
For the first time in history, many of the most popular painters were women.
- John William Waterhouse, famous for paintings of characters from the stories of King Arthur.
- Franz Xaver Winterhalter, made paintings of European royalty that became some of the time’s most famous images.
- John Everet Millais, one of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, an important group of artists.
- Evelyn De Morgan, who expressed early feminist ideas in her work.
Why Did Patrons Commission Paintings?
Art is a powerful tool. It says as much about the person who paid for it as it does the thing it shows.
The Victorians knew this and they often used art to show what they felt mattered morally. They also loved to use it to say things about the people they loved.
It’s not fair to say that all Victorian art was made for these reasons but common themes include:
Showing Social Status and Wealth
Having fine art at home, or having your name on a work in a gallery was a good way to show your status.
Moral and Religious Values
The Victorians were very worried about morals and art often had hidden meanings and a religious message.
Family Legacy and Love
Showing both romantic and family love was a major reason to commission an artist.
History and National Pride
Victorian Era pictures were often scenes from the empire or of England’s history, showing the owner’s national feeling.
Conclusion
While Victorian era paintings might not be as famous as those from the Renaissance, they’re still a fascinating step forward in art history. Victorian-era paintings have always served as a bridge between the classical and modern worlds. They successfully set artistic trends in their time while also influencing the movements that followed.
