Sunday, February 1, 2009

James Hayllar - The Centre of Attraction


1891
oil on canvas
Lady Lever Gallery
This is one of many similar cottage scenes painted by Hayllar after he moved to Wallingford, in Oxfordshire, in 1875.
The artist's daughter was the model for the woman holding the baby. A contemporary photograph of this painting is in the Hayllar family photo album.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never quiet understood why these genre paintings were not as popular with the Salons as historical painting were. So much work and attention to detail is wonderful to see and makes for a charming painting.

Hermes said...

Thanks Enzie. They were like the photographs of today, considered of interest but not great art. Historical painting was considered a noble art because it taught history and often had an underlying moral.