Waiting for William
Artist
John George Brown
(American, 1831-1913)
Date1879
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions30 x 20 in. (76.2 x 50.8 cm)
Overall, Frame: 45 x 36 in. (114.3 x 91.4 cm)
Overall, Frame: 45 x 36 in. (114.3 x 91.4 cm)
ClassificationsAmerican art
Credit LineGift of the Mowbray Arch Society
Object number98.23
Terms
- Woman
- Seascape
- Water
- Black
- White
- Yellow
- Tan
- Red
- Brown
- Genre
- Portrait
- Brooklyn, New York
Collections
On View
On viewLabel TextJohn George Brown American, 1831–1913 Waiting for William, 1879 Oil on canvas Hope, fear, sadness, and affection—such complex emotions bring life to this young woman’s face as she dreams of a loved one far away. This painting by John George Brown depicting a fancily dressed young woman gazing longingly out to sea leaves much to the imagination. It also borrows from the popular culture of the Victorian period, for the melancholic theme of the woman faithfully waiting by the sea was a staple of late nineteenth-century sentimental poetry and parlor songs. Gift of the Mowbray Arch Society 98.23