‘On the Hills.’ 1863. Wood engraving drawn by Alfred William Cooper and engraved by the Dalziels. 4½ x 7½ inches. Facing 161, The Churchman’s Family Magazine 2 (1863). This serene episode was intended to accompany an anonymous poem, with its sentimental assertion of love and harmony. Cooper captures the tone of the verse in the form of monumental figures in an idealized landscape which embodies the ‘Emblems’ of love and life. Celebrating the stability of bourgeois life, Cooper’s art is another version of escapism produced in an age fraught with social tensions.
Photograph and text by Simon Cooke. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Bibliography
The Churchman’s Family Magazine. 2 (1863).
Created 18 January 2023