Art Post Discussion! The Two Crowns

[imperatrix]

The painter is Sir Francis Bernard Dicksee (1853-1928) and the title of the work is The Two Crowns (1900). While Dicksee wasn't officially a member of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, he was somewhat associated with that particular movement and his paintings are generally thought to be representative of their works-- lush, romantic, jewel-toned in

Comments

[silverdawnatl]

I also didn't notice until it was pointed out.

[lilisonna]

Huh.

Until pointed out, I too had skimmed over the crucifix completely. It took me a minute saying "Two crowns? What two crowns?" before I saw it.

thanks! These are nifty.

[touchstone]

It's actually the Dicksee LBDSM that I've seen before. The Waterhouse one looks /vaguely/ familiar, but not as much so.

I wonder if the crucifix is more obvious in the original. His eyes are turned towards it (and away from the Fair Maidens), and that MIGHT direct one to it, were his face large enough that that were more obvious.

I like the placement of the sunburst flag just behind the crucifix, to provide the halo.

[imperatrix]

Even at full size, most people don't actually notice the crucifix. It's one of those odd things about the painting, I think. I know I didn't personally notice it myself until I stared at it for a VERY long time-- and it did finally occur to me to wonder "what is the King looking at? It's certainly not the ladies, which would make sense... oh."

I agree: the placement of the flag is clever indeed.

[hapersmion]

I think I like the pre-raphaelites. :)

[nighthob]

My favorite pre-Raph painting is Love's Shadow by Frederick Sandys.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Love%27s_Shadow_-_Anthony_Frederick_Augustus_Sandys.jpg