Artwork
The widower
The widower is an oil painting by the Realist artist Luke Fildes. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
About this work
Overview
The Widower is a 1875 oil painting by Luke Fildes, a British artist known for his realistic depictions of everyday life. The work is now part of the Art Gallery of New South Wales collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a grieving widower surrounded by his children and a puppy, conveying a sense of hardship and loss. The somber atmosphere and tattered clothing underscore the difficulties faced by the family.
Technique & Style
Fildes employed chiaroscuro to create depth and contrast, using dark shadows and highlights to evoke a particular mood. The use of unidealized detail is characteristic of the realist tradition.
History & Provenance
Luke Fildes, born in Liverpool in 1843, trained at the South Kensington and Royal Academy Schools. He was the grandson of Mary Fildes, a political activist.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (3 October 1843 – 28 February 1927) was a British painter and illustrator born in Liverpool and trained at the South Kensington and Royal Academy Schools. He was the grandson of the political activist Mary Fildes.
