The Two Crowns
Sir Frank Dicksee
1900
Oil On Canvas
About the Art
The Two Crowns was first exhibited at the 1900 Royal Academy exhibition where it was received with critical acclaim for it’s lush, detailed painting.
“In The Two Crowns Dicksee portrays an English medieval prince returning home in triumph on a white horse decorated with three feathers. Wearing a golden crown, he gazes up at a crucifix, Christ’s crown of thorns contrasting starkly with the jeweled headpiece and opulent armour of the prince. Although surrounded by admiring onlookers, the prince is transfixed by the sight of this representation of Christ, a vivid reminder of the lack of importance of temporal power and riches.” – Tate Museum
I’ll be honest when I first was this painting, I wasn’t particularly struck by it’s religious message and was immediately drawn to the colors, flowers, the dresses of the women and that gorgeous horse. But as I read about the painting I liked the idea of looking past outward and temporary beauty toward those things of lasting substance. No matter what your religious views are, finding riches in things that can’t be counted surely is worth a moments pause by princes and paupers alike. And for the record, can we agree that those ladies are fawning over that glorious horse, no?
About the Artist
“(27 November 1853 – 17 October 1928) was an English Victorian painter and illustrator, best known for his pictures of dramatic literary, historical, and legendary scenes. He also was a noted painter of portraits of fashionable women, which helped to bring him success in his own time.
Dicksee’s father, Thomas Dicksee, was a painter who taught Frank as well as his brother Herbert and his sister Margaret from a young age. Dicksee enrolled in the Royal Academy in 1870 and achieved early success. He was elected to the Academy in 1891 and became its President in 1924.[1] He was knighted in 1925, and named to the Royal Victorian Order by King George V in 1927.” – Wikipedia
Dicksee’s work was technically astounding and beautiful but his career was marked by a clash of the old vs. new in the art world. His work was considered old fashioned by the end of his career but critics still valued his work and his portraits gave him a long and lucrative career. Women of wealth and prestige were thrilled to have a portrait by Dicksee displayed in their homes.
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Monthly Challenge Recap
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Perfect Pairings: Designer + Art Bead Artist
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An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.
***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
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