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Stages of Cruelty
painting
Brown, Ford Madox
Europe, United Kingdom, England
1856 = 1890
1911.104
Oil paint
73.3 x 59.9 cm
Stages of Cruelty 1856/7-1890
Ford Madox Brown 1821-1893
Oil on canvas
The message of this painting seems all too clear;
little girls who treat their loyal pets badly
will grow up to be less than courteous
to their admirers.
The Victorians devoted whole books
to the symbolism of flowers.
Brown may have consulted one of these
when painting this picture.
The hapless suitor is confined by a lilac bush,
which could refer to first emotions of young love,
and in the foreground,
by the steadfastly clinging convolvulus,
perhaps refers to his dwindling hopes.
The child beats her dog with
a spray of love-lies-bleeding.
The combination of lush colouring
and unkind sentiment
make this an uneasy but thought-provoking work.
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