Love's Melancholy
1866
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1866
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The painting shows a young woman in a black dress standing near a grave. She looks sad and lost in thought. Her wedding ring and solemn face suggest she's mourning a loved one. The scene is set near a church, with a steeple in the background. The woman's faith and purity are symbolized by the church and the vegetation around her. To learn more about the use of light and dark in this painting, look into the technique: chiaroscuro.
