Princes Fiorimonde in the garden

Category

Library Item

Item no

30843

Title

Princes Fiorimonde in the garden

Description

Image of a woman in a garden sitting on the edge of a fountain with a man in the background walking toward her. With the text, 'She was in the garden, lying on the marble edge of a fountain, feeding the gold fish who swam in the water'.

Artist / maker

Crane, Walter

Date

1880

Size

13.4 X 9.1 cm

Type

Publisher's print

Location

Art and Design Library

This picture is from The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde by Mary de Morgan, which Walter Crane illustrated. The image of Princess Fiorimonde in her garden reflects Crane's training as a draughtsman. The image of the Princess is done in a traditional style with elements of Renaissance engraving. Fiorimonde's dress, as well as the garden, reflects this Renaissance style. This is not typical for artists involved in Arts and Crafts, as that movement is associated with bringing in elements from the medieval past. William Morris, one of the most important Arts and Crafts artists and close friend of Crane wrote, 'Crane was always tarred with the brush of the Renaissance' (1). This is a relatively early image in Crane's body of work, and is especially influenced by an eighteen month long honeymoon Crane and his wife took to Italy in 1871/2.

(1) Robert Ross, 'Walter Crane,' The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs 27 (1915), pp. 44

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Sculptures

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Fountains

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

People > Adults > Women

People > Politics and government > Princesses

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