Moonbeams dipping into the Sea
Evelyn De Morgan (London 1855 - London 1919)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1918
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
445 x 292 mm (17 1/2 x 11 1/2 in)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Knightshayes Court, Devon (Accredited Museum)
NT 541079
Caption
Three naked female figures, descending to the sea against a blue cloud-flecked twilight sky in a golden light represent moonbeams shining on the water from the crescent moon above. It was painted in 1918, the year after her husband, the well-known ceramicist, died and the year before her own death. This female artist had been influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites and inspired by G. F. Watts, a particular friend. She was known for her spiritualism and painted poetical fantasies of mytholgical or allegorical characters. She was the niece of the artist John Roddam Spencer Stanhope who lived in Florence where she spent a lot of time studying Italian art. There is another, more finished, version and a beautiful study of one of the heads in the De Morgan Foundation, London. This painting given to the National Trust by Phyllis Pickering, Mrs Pilkington who was the adopted niece of the artist's brother.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Moonbeams dipping into the Sea by Evelyn De Morgan (London 1850 or 1855 - London 1919), 1918. Three naked female figures, descending to the sea against a blue cloud-flecked twilight sky in a golden light represent moonbeams shining on the water from the crescent moon above. Another larger and more finished version and a study of one of the heads is in the De Morgan Foundation, London.
Provenance
Given Phyllis Pickering, Mrs Pilkington (?d. 1984), the adopted niece of the artist's brother
Makers and roles
Evelyn De Morgan (London 1855 - London 1919), artist
References
Gordon 1996 Catherine Gordon (ed.) Evelyn De Morgan Oil Paintings, De Morgan Foundation 1996, no. 84