Open full image Pin

The Momentous Question

Sarah Setchel

1842

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

British Romanticism Romanticism Early 19th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

The Momentous Question is a 1842 watercolor by Sarah Setchel, a British Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Sarah Setchel
When & what style?: 1842 · British Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

The painting depicts a woman in a long, pink dress sitting on a bench, looking at a man who is sitting on a chair with his head in his hands. The woman's dress is a vibrant pink color, and she has a white shawl draped over her shoulders. The man is wearing a dark jacket and pants, and his face is obscured by his hands. The scene is set in a dimly lit room with stone walls, and the only light source appears to be coming from the left side of the painting. The overall mood of the painting is one of sadness and contemplation. This painting is a great example of Romanticism, a movement that emphasized emotion and individualism. To learn more about this art movement, explore the Romanticism movement.

The story of this work

Overview

A young woman grasps the hand of a shackled young man seated on a prison bed, his face buried in his arms. The scene is derived from George Crabbe’s 1819 poem *Tales of the Hall*. Setchel exhibited the work in 1842 under the title *A Scene from "Smugglers and Poachers" in Crabbe’s Tales of the Hall*. A print by Samuel Bellin, titled *The Momentous Question*, later popularized the composition.

Read the full account in the museum source.