“Love and the Maiden”
“Love and the Maiden” is an oil and gold leaf on canvas painting by the English Pre-Raphaelite artist, John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, from 1877.
In this painting, Stanhope depicts an allegorical scene of a young woman’s first encounter with love. A maiden, appearing apprehensive, is sitting on the ground as the God of Love (Cupid or Eros) approaches her. Love is holding a bow in his right hand and is bending away flowering tree branches with his left.
This painting was first displayed at an exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1877. Though Stanhope had a high social standing, his art was not considered mainstream, so he often exhibited his works at the Grosvenor Gallery rather than the Royal Academy of Art.
During this period in Stanhope’s career, he had been spending a lot of time with the fellow Pre-Raphaelite artist, Edward Burne-Jones. The influence of Burne-Jones is evident in this piece. Both artists also used the same models. “Love and the Maiden” is often considered Stanhope’s masterpiece and is seen as containing both Pre-Raphaelite and Aestheticism ideals.
Stanhope does differ from Burne-Jones, however. Instead of referencing a particular story, legend, or myth, Stanhope painted an allegorical scene. The maiden in the foreground and the women in the background are dressed in the classical style. Because of that, instead of focusing on what the story is conveying, the viewer instead can focus on the lushness of the scene. The beauty of the figures, the details of the setting, and the vibrant colors all lend an air of aesthetic beauty.
“Love and the Maiden” is currently on display at the Legion of Honor Museum, which is part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, California in the United States.
For more on John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, please visit his short biography here.
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