One of the things that I love about Victorian era portraits is that many of them show the connection between women and books. One of my favorite artists from this time period is Charles Edward Perugini. He was an Italian artist who moved to England to study under Lord Leighton.
He started painting classical scenes then turned his talents to the more profitable work of portrait painting, especially for women and children.
One fun tidbit I discovered about this artist is that he married the youngest daughter of Charles Dickens! Kate was herself an artist. The painting above is believed to be a portrait of Kate. I can’t help but think his connection to Dickens influenced his choice of subject. I wonder if he suggested a lady hold a book if she was unsure of how to pose.
Here are some of my favorite Perugini paintings featuring ladies and books.
Don’t they all seem so wonderfully peaceful? I would be happy to climb into any one of these portraits.
Which painting is your favorite?
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All but one of those portraits are posed in a natural setting with plants and even a waterfront view in two of the portraits. Expertly the artist has captured the textures of the dress fabrics, the leaves, the grass, etc. Each woman is lovely and highly engaged in her setting. I just want to reach out and touch the material in the first woman’s dress since it’s so realistic looking. My favorite is the final woman lying in the grass under a tree and relaxing with a book. I can see why Charles Edward Perugini is a favorite painter of yours!
You definitely have an artist’s eye, Suzanne! I placed my favorite two portraits at the end, so I’m with you on the Idle Moments painting. 🙂
I also like paintings that feature people with books. The first picture (Girl Reading) is my favorite. She seems so engrossed in the story, that it’s causing a physical reaction in her to touch her chin. I also like The Ramparts, Walmer Castle – Portrait of Countess Granville and Ladies because it shows that even back then no matter the rank in society everyone has a TBR pile 🙂
Ha! So true about that TBR pile, Amy. Love that!
All of these are lovely. I think my favorites are the first one and the Lady in the yellow dress. It’s interesting that some book covers use the same artist’s painting. Example being the cover of one of my favorite books, Push Not the River, first in a Polish trilogy.
I shared these images in my Posse last week, and several people mentioned that they liked the Yellow Dress one, not just because of the lovely lady in the seaside setting, but because her expression seemed the most perturbed that the artist was interrupting her reading by making her pose. 🙂
These are all so beautiful. Thanks for sharing them, Karen.
You’re welcome, Robin. There’s just something about books and women that resonates with me. I figured most readers could relate. 🙂
The portrait of Countess Granville and ladies is my favorite. A little girl time, just chatting about books with the lake as their view. Beautiful!!
I’d love to join that book club!
I like “Girl Reading.” She looks very peaceful. I also like “Reading on a Sunny Afternoon.” The little contented smile on her face is cute. 🙂
Portrait artists are amazing to me!! I don’t have a lot of artistic talent, but I could do a fair amount in my high school art classes… if I truly put my mind to it… it was hard for me to sit still that long. 😀 lol But I NEVER COULD do portraits! Faces are so hard!
My skills are in the stick figure range, so you’re way ahead of me, Lori!
Reading on a Sunday afternoon
I love the dress she is wearing in that one, Brenda. Though, I think I might eventually get tired of holding that umbrella. 🙂
I like “ In the Orangery “
But your favorite has a beautiful dress. The detail!