Loading

Puritan and Cavalier

Frederick Goodall1886

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Liverpool, United Kingdom

This painting seems to be an amusing if rather sinister parody of the Civil War scenes from everyday life painted by the St John's Wood Clique and others of the time. These artists did tend to trivialize events in their search of humour and originality and here Goodall has demonstrated this leaning. The boy dressed as a cavalier is trying to find the girl dressed as a puritan, in order to kiss her under the mistletoe which he is carrying, but only the King Charles II spaniel can find her. Goodall has observed that in Puritan and Cavalier - themed paintings the Puritan is generally female and the Cavalier male; it is not clear why this should be so except that male 17th-century Cavalier costume was particularly enticing to 19th-century artists. The models for the two children were Frederick William and Alice Frederica (or Rica), son and daughter of the artist. The screen contains crewel work with a tree of life pattern; it is probably 19th century in date imitating 17th-century work.

Show lessRead more
  • Title: Puritan and Cavalier
  • Creator: Frederick Goodall
  • Creator Lifespan: 1822/1904
  • Creator Nationality: British
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: London, England
  • Creator Birth Place: London, England
  • Date Created: 1886
  • tag / style: Frederick Goodall; narrative; Civil War; St John's Wood Clique; boy; children; Cavalier;dressing up; Puritan; play; playing; mistletoe; King Charles II spaniel; dog; interior; screen; crewel work; tree of life; chair; rug; fireplace; hiding; hide and seek
  • Physical Dimensions: w1848 x h1130 cm (Without frame)
  • Additional artwork information: To read more about this painting, Frederick Goodall and the St John's Wood Clique, please follow this link: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/collections/andwhendidyoulastseeyourfather/circle/goodall.aspx
  • Type: Oil on canvas
  • Rights: Presented by George Audley in 1925
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites