Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1987 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Context area
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Second painting in a series entitled 'The Progress of Human Knowledge and Culture', displayed in the Great Room. This picture commemorates the votive rites 'established by the doctrinal songs of Orpheus. Barry describes the scene as follows 'In the foreground are young men and women dancing round a double terminal figure of Sylvanus and Pan, the former with his lap filled with the fruits of the earth...in the other corner is...a group of inferior rustics...less amiable, more disorderly, and mean...Inthe top of the picture, Ceres, Bacchus, Pan &c., are looking down with benignity and satisfaction, on the innocent festivity of their happy votaries, behind them is a limb of the zodiac, with the signs of Leo, Virgo and Libra, which mark this season of the year. In the distance is a farm house, binding corn, bees &c., male and female employments, courtships, marriage and a number of little children...' an unstated analogy between the birth of the ancient Greek religion and Christianity, in which we can see the child playing with a bird on a string as the infant Jesus, his mother as Mary and companion as the Baptist, makes this painting of especial significance at Christmas time. 25,123 copies sold.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open Until
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
C/28/5
Existence and location of copies
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Notes area
Note
Edition:
Publisher:, ,
Note
One of two cards designed in 1987
Note
Conservation priority
Note
Related record
Note
Creator Victoria 22/12/1998