Who painted Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition?

Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition was painted by George Louis Palmella Busson Du Maurier in 1862.

Where can I see Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition?

Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition?

Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition

George Louis Palmella Busson Du Maurier , 1862

Refreshment - At the Great Exhibition is a print by the Impressionist artist George Louis Palmella Busson Du Maurier. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The piece belongs to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.

George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier’s 1862 print *Refreshment – At the Great Exhibition* captures a bustling scene from the London International Exhibition of that year. Executed in a loose, sketch‑like manner, the work portrays a crowd gathered around a woman holding a drink and a violinist, conveying the lively atmosphere of the event. The piece belongs to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a social moment within the exhibition, where a woman converses with a violinist while others applaud or observe. The gathering reflects the mingling of leisure and culture that characterized the Great Exhibition, highlighting the public’s fascination with spectacle, music, and communal celebration in mid‑nineteenth‑century London.

Technique & Style

Du Maurier employed rapid, gestural lines to suggest movement and immediacy, favoring spontaneity over meticulous finish. This approach aligns with the early currents of Impressionism and Realism, which prioritized capturing fleeting moments and everyday scenes rather than idealized representation. The sketchy quality underscores the energetic pulse of the crowd.

History & Provenance

Created in the same year as the exhibition it depicts, the print later entered the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed alongside other works from the period. Its provenance reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving visual records of significant cultural events from the Victorian era.