The ‘Enchanted Dreams’ exhibition
was part of Birmingham Art Gallery’s Edwardian Christmas season. The collection
invites viewers to step into a ‘spellbinding dream’. ‘Enchanted Dreams’ is the
largest display of work by Edward Robert Hudges (1851-1914), a fascinating but
lesser-known Pre-Raphaelite artist.
‘Things of Lasting Value’
introduced the collection: a display of drawings, often including portraits. In
the second half of the 19th century, drawings became increasingly
valued alongside paintings and sculpture. Symbolism emerged as a prominent
subject – with artists such as Fernard Khnopff and Lucien Levy-Dhurmer
embracing chalk and pastel as the perfect media for their visionary subjects.
A chalk piece by Hughes titled ‘Study for a
picture’ (1983) highlights Hughes faultless draughtsmanship. The portrait
features ‘Brother Fra Lippo Lippi’ - a
handsome 15th century Italian Artist. At first glance, the piece balances
beauty with truth - portraying Lippi as a romantic figure, toying with the
petals of a rose. However, the story behind the piece reveals Lippi to be a roguish
figure who led a colourful and scandalous life which included eloping with a
Nun and fathering a child with her. Beyond the illusion, a scandalous twist is
revealed – which highlights the creative imagination which defines Hughes as an
artist.
Above: ‘Brother Fra Lippo Lippi'. 1. (Pintrest, n.d.) 2. Up-close (Own Photography, 8/1/16).
Traditional art is not usually my
forte, however the centrepiece of the exhibition caught my attention: ‘blue
pictures’ – fantastical and evocative works overflowing with stories and
symbols. The style is often reproduced within paintings, however I wanted to
inspect the original source and their watercolour detail up-close.
‘Night with Her Train of Stars’
was the first piece in this collection to catch my attention (1912). In this
watercolour and bodycolour, Hughes depicts Night as a protective figure
cradling a child in her arms. She scatters poppies, symbolising sleep and
oblivion. The ‘stars’ are winged babies, eagerly following her carrying glowing
lights. I wondered if the figure could be portrayed as an allegory of death as
well as sleep, since the piece takes its title from a poem in which the poet
watches night fall over the city and wishes for the same peace and serenity at
the end of his life (William Ernest Henley, 1849 – 1902). Up close, the soft
glows of light are painted flawlessly – depicting depth as the winged babies fade
into the vast sky.
Above: ‘Night with Her Train of Stars’. 1, (Wikipedia, 2015). 2. Up-close (Own Photography, 8/1/16)
The atmosphere of the gallery was peaceful, quiet and lit in
atmospheric soft light – which heightened the colours of the soft paintings. The
second piece in the collection visualizes Dawn as a floating, fair-haired nude,
accompanied by doves and songbirds (Wings of the Morning, 1905). The
choice of pastel colours are melodious, while the dark hues of darkness
illuminate the freshness and innocence of the figure.
Above: 'Wings of the Evening'. 1. (Pintrest, n.d.) 2. Up-close (Own Photography, 8/1/16).
The last painting within the collection was ‘Midsummer Eve’
(1908), another watercolour and bodycolour on paper. A woman stands in a fairy ring,
peering at tiny winged figures. The scene is lit by only the twilight and the glow
of the fairies themselves. In myth and folklore, ‘fairy rings’ are thought to
bring danger or even death – however Hughes presents it as a place of
enchantment and magic. This was an image I had seen in my subconscious, perhaps
on a calendar, or a notebook on the shelf of a Celtic-themed shop. However this
painting wasn’t flat and reproduced – it was very much alive with texture, which
allowed me to admire its pain-staking details up-close.
The ‘Enchanted Dreams’ exhibition
opened my mind to art of the Pre-Raphaelites and widely celebrated artist E.R.
Hughes. I was bewildered that a person could create art that appeared so real
in detail yet draped in this fantastical ‘melting softness’ as if dreams had
been scooped from a deep sleep and captured on canvases. It was interesting to
see spiritual and supernatural themes displayed as organic artwork, in
comparison to CGI within films which we take for granted today.
Image References:
1. ‘Brother Fra Lippo Lippi’ Painting (Image 1):
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4b/b8/0f/4bb80f8ca6d00bc1274c06dc4d494e1d.jpg
2. 'Night with Her Train of Stars' (Image 1):
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Edward_Robert_Hughes_-_Night_with_her_Train_of_Stars_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
3. 'Wings of the Morning' (Image 1):
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bc/12/8e/bc128e52e4dea304a9365bb8581c3c76.jpg
4. 'Midsummer Eve' (Image 1):
http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/27/2744/5EBTD00Z/posters/edward-robert-hughes-midsummer-eve-c-1908.jpg
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