A Song of Joy and Gladness. by John Samuel Raven 1829-1877. Signed with monogram and dated 1867 verso. Oil on paper laid onto panel; 13 x 21.75 inches. Painted mount inscribed 'For lo the winter is past/ The rain is over and gone/ The flowers appear on the earth/ The time of the singing of birds is come'; bears label on the reverse 'Painted by John Raven/ Came from Merlwood-/ Hung at Eggerslack + Craig Foot/ Left to Caree [?] Willie Carius- left/ to us by Consie Zoe Carius/ Hung up at Bracken Fold, Sep. 1931' Collection: The Maas Gallery. [Click on image to enlarge it.]
Commentary from the Maas Gallery catalogue
The son of an amateur watercolorist and clergyman, Raven was a largely self-taught landscape painter. Initially, he worked in the manner of Crome and Constable until the early 1850s when, like many of his peers, he abandoned the sombre tones of his father’s generation for the radical colours of the Pre- Raphaelites. The Times’ critic called this picture ‘charmingly truthful’ and noted Raven’s ‘intense desire to translate Nature’s subtle story of grace and beauty.’ The verses on the frame are from The Song of Solomon.
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Bibliography
Pre-Raphaelitism. Exhibition catalogue. London: Maas Gallery, 2013. No. 22.
Last modified 29 April 2013