Artwork
Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden is an oil painting by William Powell Frith. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The woman's attire and the natural setting suggest a scene from everyday life in the 19th century.
The painting depicts a woman in a vibrant red cloak and yellow bonnet, standing in a wooded area. She wears a white dress with floral patterns and holds a basket in her right hand. Her left hand rests on her hip, and she looks directly at the viewer with a subtle smile.
The woman's attire and the natural setting suggest a scene from everyday life in the 19th century. The artist's use of color and composition creates a sense of warmth and intimacy.
To learn more about the artist behind this work, explore the paintings of William Powell Frith.
Overview
Dolly Varden is an oil on canvas painting created by William Powell Frith in 1842. It depicts a scene inspired by Charles Dickens' novel Barnaby Rudge.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features Dolly Varden, a character from Barnaby Rudge, set in 1780 during the Gordon Riots. The scene shows her in a wooded area, wearing a red cloak and yellow bonnet, with a basket in hand and a subtle smile.
Technique & Style
Frith's use of vibrant colors and composition creates a warm and intimate atmosphere. The subject's attire and the natural setting evoke everyday life in the 19th century.
History & Provenance
The painting was first exhibited at the Society of British Artists. Frith painted multiple versions, including one for Dickens. The most well-known version is now held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Context
The work reflects the Victorian era's trend of illustrating popular literary characters. Frith and Dickens became acquainted around the time of the painting and maintained a friendship until Dickens' death in 1870.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Powell Frith was an English painter specialising in genre subjects and panoramic narrative works of life in the Victorian era.
The Two Central Figures in "Derby Day"
Charles Dickens in his Study
Monsieur Jourdain Receiving His Guests (from Molière's 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme')
Scene from Laurence Sterne's 'A Sentimental Journey'
Othello and Desdomona (1856)
The Bride of Lammermoor (from Sir Walter Scott's novel)
An English Merry-Making, a Hundred Years Ago
Madame Jourdain Finds Her Husband Entertaining Dorimène and Dorante (from Molière's 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme')
