Art Appreciation – June/July 2026
Molly’s presentation on Anatomy in Art seems to be jinxed! After having to cancel last month’s meeting, when we tried again in June, we encountered technical problems with the format of the images she planned to show us. All very frustrating – but the good news was that Chris Foote was able to come to the rescue. He had already prepared a presentation for next month and he was able to go ahead impromptu – without notes.
Chris spoke to us about the much loved Victorian artist, William Powell Frith (1819-1909). Frith was a highly successful artist who specialised in portraits of the great and the good of Victorian society such as Charles Dickens and John Ruskin, or major public events such as the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra. He also produced genre paintings, depicting an idealised image of everyday life such as the Many Happy Returns and For Better or Worse.
He had a particular interest in portraying scenes which were characteristic of British society at the time. Ramsgate Sands (1851-53) (shown above) shows a scene of the newly fashionable seaside holiday. The figures in the foreground are evidently prosperous judging by their unlikely beach clothing (lots of long dresses and hats) who had probably travelled there by the new mode of transport, the railway. They appear to be observed by groups of poorer people in the background.
Derby Day (1855-56) shows people of every age and rank enjoying a day at the races – although the actual horse racing is in the background and seems peripheral. On close inspection one can make out a few horses and jockeys, and the grandstand in the distance but the main focus is on the varied activities of the crowd. There are acrobats entertaining the crowds, gaming, tricksters and hawkers alongside elegantly dressed people in their carriages.
The Railway (1862) is another bustling scene featuring the grand engineering and architecture of Paddington Station. Again, the artist depicts all classes of society with many stories to be told. There is a mother saying farewell to her young son who is probably going off to boarding school, a newlywed couple departing for their honeymoon, and a pickpocket about to be handcuffed by the Peelers. Meanwhile, the business of the railway is going on: a locomotive is waiting to leave, station staff are loading luggage onto the roof of the carriages and covering it with a tarpaulin.
The closer you look at Frith’s larger paintings, the more you see and the more insight you gain into Victorian life.
Many thanks to Chris for saving the day. We hope that it will be third time lucky for Molly’s presentation on 14th July.
Lynne Vick, Convenor