How Gainsborough captures the tension of childhood in 'The Painter's Daughters chasing a Butterfly'
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- Clara Davarpanah, one of our Gallery Educators, discusses Thomas Gainsborough's 'The Painter's Daughters Chasing a Butterfly' in this bite sized art history lecture.
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Your talk has inspired me to ponder more on one of my favourite painters.
Gainsborough and his wife lost their first born daughter in infancy in 1748. She had been named Mary, as was the Mary ( known as Molly) born 1750, in this double portrait. The younger girl, Margaret ( known as Peggy, and named after her mother), was born in 1752. Could it be that Gainsborough wanted to represent all three of his daughters? His deceased first born daughter, as the ephemeral and fragile butterfly? In the Christian tradition the butterfly has been used to symbolise resurrection and in other spiritual circles butterflies have stood for the spirit or soul. Certainly Gainsborough himself was baptised on 14th May 1727, and is buried at St Anne's Church in Kew, and is said to have been a devout Christian. He may therefore have been aware of this interpretation or symbolism.
Perhaps another layer to this painting could be that his two surviving daughters are reaching out to connect with (catch) the sister they can never know, and his anxiety for his surviving daughters is wrapped up in his grief at losing his first.
Gainsborough painted a 'conversation' piece of himself and his wife, and in between them a small child in C.1748. The child seems to be unfinished, her right arm appearing translucent against the blue dress of her mother, almost ghostlike; she appears to be floating rather than standing. However her rosy cherubic cheeked face is beautifully painted and of course Cherubs are well known as symbols of love and purity. It has been suggested that the child in this painting, could be a posthumous portrait of their deceased child, Mary. Could it be that Gainsborough, emphasised her baby features, wishing to represent her as a heavenly cherub? In his portrait of his daughters, perhaps his representation of the first Mary has become more subtle, more symbolic, suggesting that as he thinks of his second and third daughters, thoughts of his first are never far from his heart.
Very insightful!
Thank you Jeff.
Wonderful background. Thank you! Where do you write/teach? I would love more.
@@languedocfrance Thank you. I'm glad you liked my comment. I'll let you know when I establish my blog.
What is most important is that a very fine print of this canvas adorns my lounge. It moves me, enough said. 😊
As an artist and educator, I am totally impressed by Clara Davarpanah's succinctly spot-on interpretation and delivery of Gainsborough's painting. The talk is so engaging. I would love to see more from this educator.
So interesting and a really good presentation. These 10 minute videos are now my breakfast viewing instead of the news!
Brava! I am your collegue from Pushkin museum in Moscow. I am impressed. Thank you!
You have those paintings you go and look at everytime you visit London, and this is one of them.
Definitely made me think about all the nuances in Gainsborough, the father's portrait of his daughters. I seem to recall that his doing so was important as one of those did not live to maturity. The painting became a treasure for the parents.
Interesting! We can interpret anything but the painting is a beautiful reflection of the innocence and bliss of childhood.
I have seen that painting several times, but never noticed the butterfly made by the two figures, a lovely insight! A very well-presented talk, thank you!
Very interesting, careful analysis. I don’t agree with some of it. The dark background makes the young girls in their light, summer dresses pop. I don’t see anything ominous in the background and wonder if it has darkened somewhat over the years. I agree that there is a psychological intensity in the younger, more impulsive girl restrained by her more mature older sister. Youth is fleeting. Really a beautiful portrait by a sensitive father.
What an amazing analysis. Thought-provoking and so inspiring. Clara is magnificent. I could listen to her all day. 🦋 I also love how the older sister has her apron on her shoulder reminiscent of a butterfly wing.
Great talk! This is a painting I'd walk past and would have ignored the details that you illustrate so clearly. You truly taught me something valuable. Thanks so much
I would like to commend your presentation! The entire video was beautifully spoken, with measured tones and a flowing, smooth cadence! Your insights were clearly described and interesting. Enjoyed this episode thoroughly. Thank you!
I always appreciated your educational Videos, but at present they mean much more to me than ever before. I'd like to congratulate Clara Davarpanah on her highly interesting lecture which I found extremely clear and didactic. The close-ups are absolutely amazing, what a treat ! Thank you, the National Gallery !
These videos are so instructive! It allows for a more thorough analysis since the gallery is so big and so full of works of art it is impossible to focus on each one during a visit. For those of us who live abroad and can only visit the gallery once every few years these are a lifesaver and a reminder of how much is being done to preserve art. My daughter is starting restoration at uni this year and I couldn't be prouder that she has picked such a useful career. 😊 Thank you for all your efforts. I wish you all a very good 2020!
Brava Clara !
One of my favourite pictures in the gallery, i alsays spend time with it when I am able to visit
Yes I do as well.
We could view it together.
It is a disappearing england pic.
I love the10 minute analysis. This was specially interesting to me. Great presenter!
Very insightful and interesting as always. These videos are really great as an introduction to alot of painters or even artstyles that I didn't know of or knew very little about before. I really appreciate that!
Thank you!!!
Make the watching a great painting much more interesting - well said
love the use of light; I can't do that;I do not know how
That's was a beautiful explanation for a beautiful picture. I can't wait to go and see it now. Thanks for sharing it with us. Well done, keep it up
Great Work National Gallery with the "10 minute or less" segments. I think you should give them a type of catch phrase and create a SEPARATE RUclips channel for them. Maybe tittle it "Great Works in 10" or " Master Piece in 10 or less". I personally would love to watch a 10 minute curated look at a masterpiece every morning (twice on Sunday's). Also your curators can do the recordings from home (social distancing). Not to mention students or the "young folk" and their short attention spans,will be able to learn art at the speed of their internet induced psychotic minds.
Again, Great Job!
Hi @Robert-Bernail, glad you enjoyed the video! You can see more videos in this series in our 10-minute talks playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLvb2y26xK6Y5fL_MDdSOB8FlqNGkLKSWb
Totally cool. Thanks! I love this series.
It's a wonderful painting. Thanks for the interesting insights.
His first daughter, also called Mary, died very young - just a baby, I think. So that can be factored into this image too.
Absolutely! I was more long winded. You have said it in a nutshell.
I love this painting, thank you !
Thank you for this talk!
Brilliant!
This is the painting which inspired the novel 'Molly and the Captain' by Anthony Quinn.
Very fine talk, hard to put into words such ephemeral moment . Gainsborough butterfly pausing briefly, the two little girls of tender age, fragile, fleeting. How did he do it?
Very good presentation.
Very interesting thank you
That was interesting. Who'd have thought there was so much in it.
Fascinating and well said...thank you. The “here’ and ‘here” clicking spot aren’t there.
Great presentatr
I am always interested in the stories behind the scene, not the scene itself.
Lovely, intelligent girl! Up to now it was a dull pretty painting, now it gives me the creeps... Thank you!
Having said all this it could also be merely an artistic moment captured by their father as a momento to their youth.. Was any of this supposition actually documented by the artist?
What is the older sister holding in her left hand, over her shoulder?
Hi Kenn, Mary is holding a looped-up muslin apron to act as a net to catch the butterfly in
@@nationalgallery Thank you. That adds to the overall picture.
At about the 6:20 mark, you speak of Mary's sadness representing Gainsborough's - but did you mean Margaret?
You identified the plant -- it's a thistle, but can you identify the butterfly?
Gainsborough put english painting art on the Map
Are you unfamiliar with the work of Anthony Van Dyck, and Peter Lely? - they both painted quite well!
I always assumed gainesborough wasn't all that good at painting people because of some of the weirder people he painted (like the couple to the right). You look at these perfect little faces and you see he didn't like the other people much or they really looked that weird.
It is self-evident that you are young - no need to mention it.
Hi Will, Clara was part of our Young Producers programme last year, hence why she states that: www.nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/young-producers