The Blacksmith's Rest. Frank Holl (1845-1888). 1881. Oil on panel, 17 x 21 inches. Courtesy of the Maas Gallery, London Click on the image to enlarge it.
“Until about 1880, Holl set his often tragic narratives of modern life in dark interiors similar to this — but after he became a successful portraitist, his sombre subject pictures became fewer, while the dark themes of his days at The Graphic magazine lightened up. Still, he loved to paint with black. Here a blacksmith takes a smoke in the cool shadows of his workshop, the bright summer sunshine outside barely piercing the gloom, like stained glass in a church. ” — the Maas Gallery website.
Details of this painting
- The Blacksmith sitting in the shadows and smoking
- The open window above and behind the blacksmith
- The blacksmith’s tools leaning against the wall at right
The Maas Gallery, 15a Clifford Street, London W1S 4JZ has most generously given its permission to use in the Victorian Web information, images, and text from its catalogues. The copyright on text and images from their catalogues remains, of course, with the Gallery. Readers should consult their website to obtain information about recent exhibitions and to order their catalogues. — George P. Landow
Last modified 21 April 2020