Artwork
The Industrial Arts in Times of Peace
The Industrial Arts in Times of Peace is an oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Frederick Richard Pickersgill. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Frederick Richard Pickersgill’s 1871 oil painting The Industrial Arts in Times of Peace presents an interior gathering where figures in period costume engage in varied tasks. A central pair, a man in a red robe and a woman in white, converse beneath a vaulted ceiling with arches and a large window, while others work with tools or observe the scene, suggesting a collective focus on productive activity.
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as an allegorical tableau that merges contemporary industrial concerns with classical or mythological motifs. By placing individuals of differing social ranks together, Pickersgill underscores the notion that the benefits of industrial progress extend across society, framing peace-time industry as a shared civic virtue.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting reflects the lingering influence of the Pre‑Raphaelite movement in its meticulous detail and bright coloration. Pickersgill’s handling of light through the expansive window and his careful rendering of textures, from the sheen of fabrics to the metallic glint of tools, demonstrate a disciplined academic training combined with a decorative sensibility.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after the 1870s expansion of Britain’s industrial economy, the piece entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains on display. Pickersgill, a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy, produced the work during a period when his oeuvre frequently explored literary, religious, and historical subjects, aligning this painting with his broader thematic interests.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Richard Pickersgill (25 September 1820 – 20 December 1900) was an English painter and book illustrator.
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