Artwork
The Boy and the Dryad
The Boy and the Dryad is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Charles Napier Kennedy. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
The Boy and the Dryad is a painting created in 1895 by Charles Napier Kennedy, a British artist associated with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Hibernian Academy.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a young boy, clad in a loincloth, climbing a tree as a dryad, a mythological tree spirit, reaches out to him. The serene scene conveys harmony between the natural world and human presence.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work is characterized by warm colors and soft brushstrokes, evoking intimacy and connection between the figures. The post-impressionist style is evident in the artist's approach to color and texture.
History & Provenance
The Boy and the Dryad is part of the National Gallery of Ireland's collection. Kennedy, trained at the Slade School, was known for his mythological subjects and affiliations with prominent art institutions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Napier Kennedy ARHA, ROI (1852 in London – 1898 in St Ives) was a British artist.
