Artwork
Our Croquet Party
Our Croquet Party is a print by the Impressionist artist George Louis Palmella Busson Du Maurier. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Our Croquet Party, created in 1864 by George Louis Palmella Busson Du Maurier, is a print capturing a leisurely Victorian social gathering. The piece is characteristic of mid-19th-century British art’s focus on domestic and recreational subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a vibrant croquet game in a backyard setting, with figures engaged in play or observation. The scene conveys the relaxed, social aspects of Victorian leisure activities.
Technique & Style
Du Maurier employed loose, sketchy lines to impart a sense of immediacy and liveliness to the scene. This approach, prioritizing spontaneity over meticulous detail, was distinctive for its time.
History & Provenance
Our Croquet Party is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. Created during Du Maurier’s period of illustration work, notably with *Punch*, it precedes his later literary career, including the novel *Trilby*.
Context
This work aligns with the Realist movement’s emphasis on everyday life depiction. Viewed in this context, it showcases how artists of the era interpreted common leisure pursuits.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Louis Palmella Busson Du Maurier
George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier (French: ; 6 March 1834 – 8 October 1896) was a French-British cartoonist, illustrator, and novelist.
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