Christian How and Children by James Cranke Senior (tactile)
By:
Sign Up Now!
Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into UK education collection to access this title.
Learn about membership options,
or view our freely available titles.
- Synopsis
- The artist - James Cranke Senior (1707-1780) spent most of his life in Urswick near Ulverston. His painting style is said to have been influenced by GeorgeRomney. This oil on canvas painting dates to circa 1763. The painting This family portrait shows the family of Peter How, one of the 18th century richest merchants in the north of England. He made and lost his fortune through the tobacco trade. The painting features three members of Peter How's family, from left to right, Peter How's second wife Christian (seated), his son Peter (standing) and his daughter Christian (standing). A small table with pink and white flowers on top separates Peter from his sister. The background of the painting is very dark making the faces, necks, arms and hands really stand out as if illuminated. How's wife Christian is seated on the left of the painting, her body facing into the centre of painting with her face turned to look directly at you. Her hair is swept back off her face giving her a high forehead. The hair is gathered at the back in a tight pony tail, which was a typical fashion for this period. She has quite a serious expression on her face with a straight mouth. Her right lower arm is laid across her lap and she is holding a dainty blue and white teacup and saucer in her hand. Her left arm is laid gently and protectively across the shoulders of her son Peter who is standing at her side. Christian is wearing a long gold coloured dress that has a deep scooped neckline trimmed with white lace, fitted bodice, three-quarter length sleeves that are also trimmed with white lace and a voluminous skirt that takes up a great deal of room. Peter has his body facing you but his face turned very slightly to the right and looking away from you. He too has a serious expression with his hair swept back off his face revealing a high forehead. Once again his hair is gathered at the back in a ponytail. Leaning very slightly towards his mother, Peter's right arm is laid across her lap and he is holding a silver spoon upright in his hand. His left arm is bent at the elbow and is held across his body at waist height. Unusually for us, Peter is wearing a full length silver dress in a similar style to his mother. The lower part of his dress is hidden by the huge skirt of his mother's dress. It was usual at this time for boys to wear dresses until about the age of five, when they were "breeched" i.e. wore breeches (trousers). Peter's sister, Christian, is standing on the right of the painting with her body facing into the centre towards her mother and brother but separated from them by the small table with flowers on. Her head is turned so that she is looking directly at you and she has a less serious expression than that of her mother and brother with almost a smile visible. Her hair, decorated with flowers, is swept off her face like her mother revealing a high forehead. Christian is also wearing a silver dress that is matches her brother's dress. With her left hand, she has gathered up the front hem of dress's skirt revealing a bright red underskirt. In the folds of the skirt she is holding at waist height are flowers that she appears to be taking from or placing on the small table next to her. In her right hand, that is held out above the small table, she holds another flower.
- Copyright:
- 2011
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Excellent
- Publisher:
- RNIB
- Date of Addition:
- 04/12/17
- Copyrighted By:
- RNIB
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Art and Architecture
- Submitted By:
- Sarah Bennett
- Proofread By:
- N/A
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.