Medusa
Winifred Hope Thomson (1864 - Beaconsfield 1944)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1896
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
610 x 451 mm (24 x 17 3/4 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Dorneywood House and Gardens, Buckinghamshire
NT 1507762
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Medusa, by Winifred Hope Thomson (1864 - Beaconsfield 1944), circa 1896. A quarter-length portrait of a lady as Medusa, body turning half to her right, but head turned half left, with yellow-green eyes, red hair piled up and a green snake weaving amongst it. She wears a flimsy green dress and stands in a cave, its entrance to the left.
Full description
This painting by Winifred Hope Thomson is unusual for its depiction of the Greek mythological figure of Medusa. Thomson has depicted the Gorgon, Medusa not as monstrous but as a beautiful woman. Medusa is shown at the entrance to a sea cave, perhaps alluding to her origins as offspring of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto. Thomson studied at the National Art Training School in South Kensington and was the first woman to be awarded a gold medal in the national competition open to all students at Government Art Schools. In the late 1880s Thomson studied in Paris at the 'atelier des dames' under the direction of Carolus Duran and Jean Jacques Henner. Her name and address are recorded in Henners diary from 1888, 'Mlle Miss Winifred Thomson rue des Champs 72 mardi a 5 heures'. Thomson exhibited work at the Women's International Exhibition at Earl's Court in 1900 .She became renowned for her portrait miniatures of wealthy society figures and exhibited her work in Paris and at the Society of Miniaturists in London where she was also an elected member.
Provenance
Presented with Dorneywood by Sir Courtauld Thomson (1865 – 1954) to the National Trust in 1942
Makers and roles
Winifred Hope Thomson (1864 - Beaconsfield 1944), artist