Queen Mary's Dolls' House
A guide to Windsor Castle's famous Dolls’ House.
MAURICE WILLIAM GREIFFENHAGEN (1862-1931)
Aphrodite
c.1923RCIN 927041
A miniature stylised drawing representing Aphrodite Anadyomene, or Venus arising from the waves, flanked by vertical rock formations.
This drawing was inspired by the curving and sinuous forms of plants which characterised the art nouveau style of the late nineteenth century. This movement is usually associated with the decorative arts and architecture, and can also be seen in the fabulous black-and-white illustrations of Aubrey Beardsley. Maurice Greiffenhagen’s pen and ink drawing depicts the goddess of love as an archetype of the beautiful woman, rising innocently from the waves.
During his early career the British painter Maurice Greiffenhagen practised as an illustrator, perhaps most notably of the works of Rider Haggard. He also painted portraits, mythological subjects, and produced commercial posters. He was head of the life department at Glasgow College of Art, 1906-29. His painting, An Idyll (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool) inspired DH Lawrence to write The White Peacock.
This drawing was inspired by the curving and sinuous forms of plants which characterised the art nouveau style of the late nineteenth century. This movement is usually associated with the decorative arts and architecture, and can also be seen in the fabulous black-and-white illustrations of Aubrey Beardsley. Maurice Greiffenhagen’s pen and ink drawing depicts the goddess of love as an archetype of the beautiful woman, rising innocently from the waves.
During his early career the British painter Maurice Greiffenhagen practised as an illustrator, perhaps most notably of the works of Rider Haggard. He also painted portraits, mythological subjects, and produced commercial posters. He was head of the life department at Glasgow College of Art, 1906-29. His painting, An Idyll (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool) inspired DH Lawrence to write The White Peacock.
