Artwork

The Young Mother

The Young Mother, by Charles West Cope, oil, 1845
The Young Mother, by Charles West Cope, oil, 1845

The Young Mother is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Charles West Cope. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The Young Mother is an oil painting by Charles West Cope, depicting a serene domestic scene.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows a young woman nursing a baby by a window, with soft light illuminating their faces. The subject is a tender moment of maternal care, a theme not commonly explored in 19th-century art.

Technique & Style

Cope's work is characterized by its gentle and warm treatment, with a focus on quiet, domestic scenes. The painting's soft light and intimate atmosphere reflect his style.

History & Provenance

The painting was sold to John Sheepshanks, a friend of Cope's father, as part of a series of transactions between the artist and the collector.

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles West Cope

English painter Charles West Cope made quiet, tender scenes of family life and scenes from John Milton’s poems in the 1840s.