Artwork
The Good Harvest of 1854
The Good Harvest of 1854 is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Charles Allston Collins. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Good Harvest of 1854 is a small oil painting depicting a harvest scene. It showcases a field filled with golden wheat, with two figures working in the distance and a prominent sheaf of corn in the foreground.
Subject & Meaning
The painting's elements carry symbolic meanings: the sheaf of corn represents bread, while the ivy may allude to wine and its association with Holy Communion, drawing on its connection to Bacchus, the Greek god of wine.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by its bright, detailed execution, reflecting the influence of the Pre-Raphaelite style, which the artist, Collins, admired and emulated. The painting's careful rendering and attention to light effects on the wheat and leaves are notable.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Allston Collins (London 25 January 1828 – 9 April 1873) was a British painter, writer, and illustrator associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
