1834
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Gallery of Ireland
Cupping the Bees is a 1834 oil by William Mulready, depicting Cottage, held at National Gallery of Ireland.
This painting depicts a young girl standing in front of a small cottage, surrounded by lush greenery. The girl is dressed in a simple white dress with a red skirt, and her blonde hair is tied back with a pink ribbon. She appears to be engaged in an activity, possibly cupping bees, as suggested by the title of the painting. The cottage behind her is made of stone and has a thatched roof, with a small window and a door that is slightly ajar. The surrounding landscape is dotted with trees and bushes, and a few flowers are visible in the foreground. The painting is a charming depiction of rural life, with a focus on the simple pleasures of childhood. To learn more about the artist's use of light and shadow, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
William Mulready was an Irish genre painter living in London. He is best known for his romanticising depictions of rural scenes, and for creating Mulready stationery letter sheets, issued at the same time as the Penny Black postage stamp.
See the richer artist page
