Victorian Tales of Love and Enchantment

Victorian Tales of Love and Enchantment
Edmund Blair Leighton
In Time of Peril 1897
Mackelvie Trust Collection
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Exhibition Details

Yearning and desire – for a loved one, an unrequited love, a way of life long gone – underlies many of the paintings in Victorian Tales of Love and Enchantment.

During the 19th century, exploration and archaeological discoveries illustrated much about ancient cultures. These led to the development of a new movement – Aestheticism – focusing on beauty for its own sake, rather than for historical narrative. Other artists were fascinated by the mystique surrounding the great queens of antiquity and the heroes of mythology.

Scenes of modern life were equally popular. Painting was a powerful tool, a writer in The Athenium noting, 'It is our firm conviction that the artist's pencil has done more to create sympathy and consideration for those whose fortunes and sufferings have been its theme, than a host of pamphleteers could have worked.'

While industrial development ultimately brought massive wealth to Britain, Death, the great leveller, waited in the wings whether you were rich or poor. Lovers separated by death longed for the joyous renewal awaiting them in the next world; the tragic demise of romantic figures from the past creating a powerful link with the present.

Date
Curated by
Mary Kisler
Location
Mezzanine level
Cost
Free entry

Related Artwork

View Artwork

Not on display

Cleopatra
Cleopatra

Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Production date
Oct 1877
Medium
oil on panel
Size (h x w)
445 x 460 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1916
Accession no
MU/5
View Artwork

Not on display

Egyptians 3,000 years ago
Egyptians 3,000 years ago

Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Production date
1863
Medium
oil on panel
Size (h x w)
995 x 1250 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1921
Accession no
M1921/1/3
View Artwork

Not on display

Highland Shepherd
Highland Shepherd

Richard Ansdell

Production date
1864
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
835 x 1951 x 66 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, bequest of Mr William Elliot, 1941
Accession no
1941/3/3
View Artwork

Not on display

Legend of Sir Patrick Spens
Legend of Sir Patrick Spens

James Archer

Production date
1870
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1156 x 2089 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
MU/6
View Artwork

Not on display

For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven
For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven

Frank Bramley

Production date
1891
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
2166 x 2872 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1913
Accession no
M1913/1
View Artwork

Not on display

The Day of Sedgemoor
The Day of Sedgemoor

Edgar Bundy

Production date
circa 1907
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1511 x 1511 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1921
Accession no
M1921/1/7
View Artwork

Not on display

Fortitude
Fortitude

Edward Burne-Jones

Production date
1878 {Begun in}
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
3700 x 1640 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Moss Davis, 1926
Accession no
1926/3
View Artwork

On display

Pope Makes Love To Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Pope Makes Love To Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

William Frith

On display

Production date
1852
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1180 x 942 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Sir Frank Mappin, 1974
Accession no
1974/59
View Artwork

Not on display

Memories
Memories

John Godward

Production date
1892
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1276 x 870 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of the late James H Coleman, 1929
Accession no
1929/2/4
View Artwork

Not on display

The Finding of Moses
The Finding of Moses

Frederick Goodall

Production date
Unknown
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
2438 x 1829 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
MU/55
View Artwork

Not on display

Afternoon Coffee, Venice
Afternoon Coffee, Venice

Cecil van Haanen

Production date
1883
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1555 x 1225 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
MU/143
View Artwork

Not on display

Robert Burns
Robert Burns

Herbert Hampton

Production date
1899
Medium
bronze
Size (h x w)
840 x 330 x 230 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Moss Davis,1928
Accession no
1928/6/5
View Artwork

Not on display

In Time of Peril
In Time of Peril

Edmund Blair Leighton

Production date
1897
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1245 x 1689 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
MU/81
View Artwork

Not on display

Melittion
Melittion

Frederic Leighton

Production date
1882
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1219 x 914 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Moss Davis, 1927
Accession no
1927/2/1
View Artwork

Not on display

Confirmation
Confirmation

William Llewellyn

Production date
1907
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
768 x 508 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
MU/87
View Artwork

Not on display

The Spirit of Justice
The Spirit of Justice

Daniel Maclise

Production date
1850
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
2591 x 1524 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of James Tannock Mackelvie, 1881
Accession no
M1881/1/1
View Artwork

Not on display

Silver Testimonial presented to Doctor John Conolly
Silver Testimonial presented to Doctor John Conolly

John Samuel Hunt

Production date
1851
Medium
sterling silver
Size (h x w)
940 x 580 x 470 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr John Conolly, OCM, 1917
Accession no
1917/1/3
View Artwork

Not on display

Genoa From the New Terrace
Genoa From the New Terrace

James Pyne

Production date
1862
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1425 x 2040 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Moss Davis, 1929
Accession no
1929/9/4
View Artwork

On display

Married
Married

Walter Sadler

On display

Production date
1896
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1276 x 971 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
M1913/4
Married

Walter Sadler

On display

View Artwork

On display

Her First Love Letter
Her First Love Letter

Marcus Stone

On display

Production date
1889
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1100 x 1683 x 60 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Moss Davis, 1930
Accession no
1930/2/1
View Artwork

Not on display

Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman

Ida R Tayler

Production date
circa 1885
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1190 x 865 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1980. Frame sponsored by the Portrait Group.
Accession no
1980/29
View Artwork

Not on display

Lamia
Lamia

John Waterhouse

Production date
1905
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1447 x 902 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Moss Davis, 1930
Accession no
1930/18/1
View Artwork

Not on display

The Last Ray
The Last Ray

George Leslie

Production date
Unknown
Medium
oil on canvas
Size (h x w)
1080 x 1640 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Frame sponsored by Alan and Ann Jermaine.
Accession no
MU/82