Love in a Maze, by G. A. Storey R.A. (1834-1919). 1873. Oil on canvas. 34 x 44 ¼ inches (86.4 x 112.4 cm). Private collection. Image by kind permission of Jan's & Co. Fine French Antiques, Inc. Los Angeles, California.
Love in a Maze was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1873, no. 387. The painting features a fashionably dressed young woman seated on a bench reading a book and being greeted by a young gentleman in a red coat who courteously bows before her. Another man, presumably also a suitor, looks on in dismay behind one of the hedges that form the maze noting that his rival has reached the object of his affections before him. In the background is a red brick manor house similar to those featured in paintings by his friends Fred Walker and Philip Calderon. The trees, and the blue sky filled with white clouds, are well handled. The title of the painting may come from the novella by Eliza Haywood published in 1725 and entitled Fantomina; or, Love in a Maze. Storey's painting, however, does not appear to depict a scene from the book that was advertised as being "A Secret History of an Amour Between Two Persons of Condition."
When the picture was exhibited in 1873 the critics paid more attention to Storey's Scandal, another of his works inspired by De Hooghe. A reviewer for The Architect felt Love in the Maze was poorly executed: "The pun of the title, Love in a Maze (387), receives comic illustration from Mr. Storey in a rather poorly-executed little picture. The fortunate swain has found his way to the heart of the maze, and approaches with flourishing courtesy a lady who is seated on a green bench in the centre; behind her head swain number two, who cannot thread the puzzle, looks over the box hedge in dismay, to find himself so near, yet so hopelessly removed, and in full sight of his rival's success" (272). The Art Journal merely remarked, "There is good feeling for nature in Mr. Storey's Love in a Maze' (199). F. G. Stephens in The Athenaeum gave it very much of a mixed review: "Love in a Maze (387) shows a loutish gentleman approaching the bench which forms the centre of an old-fashioned maze, and saluting an awkward girl who sits there; an angry gentleman looks at the pair over the low hedge behind them. Although it is dull and the key chosen for its colour is low, there is an agreeable silveriness about this picture. This is much to the artist's credit, but we think the subject curiously bad and very ill chosen" (636).
Love in a Maze, an engraving published in The Graphic on 6 September 1873: 225.
Bibliography
"Exhibition of the Royal Academy." The Art Journal New Series XII (July 1873): 197-203.
Jan's & Co. Fine French Antiques, Inc. Los Angeles, California. https://www.jansantiques.com
Stephens, Frederic George. "Fine Arts. The Royal Academy." The Athenaeum No. 2377 (17 May 1873): 634-36.
Created 24 September 2023