Artwork
Elaine
Elaine is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Toby Edward Rosenthal. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 72320
- Credit line
- Gift of Mrs. Maurice Rosenfeld
About this work
Overview
Elaine is an oil on canvas painting depicting a scene from the Arthurian legends. The work illustrates a poignant moment from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem Idylls of the King.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Elaine's funeral barge, carrying her body from Astolat to Camelot. She holds a lily and a letter, symbolizing her unrequited love for Sir Lancelot. The scene is drawn from Tennyson's poem, where Elaine dies of a broken heart.
Technique & Style
The artist, Toby Edward Rosenthal, employed a detailed and naturalistic style, characteristic of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The use of glazing technique contributed to the richly colored surface, enhancing the overall effect of the painting.
History & Provenance
After being purchased by an American patron, the painting gained significant popularity, sparking 'Elaine hysteria'. It inspired the formation of clubs, musical compositions, and a surge in sales of Tennyson's Idylls of the King.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tobias Edward Rosenthal, known as Toby (15 March 1848 in Strasburg in Westpreußen, Prussia – 23 December 1917 in Munich) was a German-American genre and portrait painter. He generally claimed to have been born in New Haven, Connecticut.
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