Masterpiece watercolours and drawings
Exhibition held at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, 28 June to 9 November 2008 and The Herbert in Coventry, 13 January to 22 March 2009.
Accession number 3788
Chalks on paper, 34.7 x 29cm
Purchased in 1896.
In the large painting 'Sponsa de Libano' (The Bride of Lebanon) two female figures in swirling draperies hover over the bride. They represent the North and South winds, blowing fragrant breezes:
'Awake O North wind; and come then south; blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out.'
The subject comes from the Song of Solomon in the Bible. This study for the wind on the left was made from a twelve year old cockney Jewish girl who posed for both North and South winds. The artist asked her to 'look wild and blow with your lips.'
This drawing is available to send as an e-card.