Angels Entertaining the Holy Child by Marianne Stokes, née Preindlsberger (1855-1927). Signed in the lower righthand corner. Exhibited 1893. Oil on canvas. 56 ¾ x 68 ¾ in. (144.2 x 174.6 cm.) Private Collection (from Sotheby's, by kind permission).
This tender depiction of Mary resting her weary head on the bales of straw, is at once very human (almost humorous) and deeply devotional. Like any new mother, this one is worn out, and like any new baby, her infant is wakeful when she herself needs to gather her strength. Uniquely, however, this infant has other guardians: angels to play sweet music to him while his mother sleeps. The angels are children themselves, with rather sad expressions in their faces, giving the scene a special poignancy. The baby gazes at the viewer, as if not only wide awake but registering the presence of onlookers, hands raised as they will one day be in blessing. The colour is as usual bright and pure, yet graduated, with light streaming in from an opening in the background.
The Athenaeum reviewer, who saw the work in the Royal Academy exhibition that spring, spent quite a while considering it, noting Stokes's originality ("a fresh and vigorous artist, working in accustomed fields, and yet plagiarizing from nobody"), and finding much here "that is remarkable for style and large views in design." He went on to admit that her treatment of the subject was "very realistic, but not coarse," and not marred by anything "irreverent, crude, or ungraceful." Still, the choice of words here suggests that there were dangers in such an approach, and indeed the reviewer goes on to suggest that the whole scene is anachronistic. He takes a rather superior tone when offering the following advice: "Mrs. Stokes’s ideal angels are not wanting in tenderness and grace, but, being very solid and plump, they are neither angelic nor spiritualized. She is a thoroughly well-trained painter who, unlike most lady artists, does not take things easily nor fail in thinking out her subject. Accordingly, while admitting her accomplishments and sincerity, we think it would be well if she took to genre subjects according to modern usages" (546). Fortunately, the artist continued in her individualistic way rather than conforming to conventional expectations. — Jacqueline Banerjee
Bibliography
Angels Entertaining the Holy Child. The Athenaeum. Archived in the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. Web. 25 June 2024.
"Fine Arts: The Royal Academy (First Notice)." The Athenaeum. 29 April 1993. No. 3418: 542-47. Internet Archive. Digitising sponsor: Kahle/Austin Foundation. Web. 25 June 2024.
Created 24 June 2023