Piety: The Knights of the Round Table about to Depart in Quest of the Holy Grail
About this artwork
Dyce's watercolour evokes the mythic medieval world of King Arthur and his knights. Arthur's sad expression as he watches Lancelot kiss Queen Guinevere's hand in farewell, reflects his knowledge of Guinevere and Lancelot's love for each other and his awareness that many of his men will not return. The composition represents 'Piety' and was designed for one of seven panels depicting the Christian virtues, based on Sir Thomas Malory's poem 'Le Morte d'Arthur.' These were destined for the Queen's Robing Room in the new Houses of Parliament, but the Royal Commission supervising the project rejected this design, considering its mood too pessimistic.
Updated before 2020
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artist:William Dyce (1806 - 1864) Scottish
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title:Piety: The Knights of the Round Table about to Depart in Quest of the Holy Grail
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date created:1849
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materials:Watercolour and bodycolour over pencil on buff paper, laid down
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measurements:23.30 x 44.00 cm (framed: 43.81 x 59.05 cm)
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object type:
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credit line:Mr Charles Guthrie Gift 1958
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accession number:D 4788
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William Dyce
William Dyce
Dyce specialised chiefly in religious and medieval subjects. His many interests included medicine, geology and art education. Born in Aberdeen, he trained briefly in London before travelling to Italy. The Nazarenes, a group of German painters working in Rome who were inspired by the character of...