Artwork
Waiting for an Answer
Waiting for an Answer is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist John Callcott Horsley. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Waiting for an Answer is a 1841 oil painting by John Callcott Horsley, an English artist associated with the Cranbrook Colony.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman in a dark dress with a white apron standing in a stone doorway, holding a cloth, while a man in a red and gold tunic looks at her seriously. The scene conveys a sense of quiet anticipation, with the woman's uncertain expression suggesting she awaits a response.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the work reflects Horsley's genre and historical interests, characteristic of the British Romanticism movement.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Callcott Horsley (29 January 1817 – 18 October 1903) was an English academic painter of genre and historical scenes, illustrator, and designer of the first Christmas card. He was a member of the artist's colony in Cranbrook.
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