Hagar was painted by Andrew Geddes in 1842.

Where can I see Hagar?

Hagar is held by National Galleries Scotland.

What movement is Hagar?

Hagar is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Hagar

Andrew Geddes , 1842

Hagar is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Andrew Geddes. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.

About this work

Overview

Andrew Geddes’ oil work titled Hagar, executed in 1842, is part of the collection of the Scottish National Gallery. The canvas presents a solitary female figure rendered against a deep, shadowed backdrop, drawing immediate visual focus to her form and attire.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a woman with long dark hair, dressed in a red garment. She rests her left hand on her head, gazes upward and to the right, and wears an expression of quiet contemplation, suggesting an inner narrative or moment of reflection beyond the picture plane.

Technique & Style

Geddes employs chiaroscuro, contrasting luminous areas with surrounding darkness to model the figure’s volume and create a sense of depth. The subdued palette of the background amplifies the vivid red of the dress, while the soft handling of light on the hair and skin enhances the painting’s three‑dimensional quality.

History & Provenance

Completed in the early 1840s, Hagar entered the Scottish National Gallery’s holdings, where it remains on display. The work reflects Geddes’ mature period, during which he focused on portraiture and genre scenes that combined narrative suggestion with careful observation of light.