Colour Revolution at the Ashmolean

Yesterday, a friend and I took ourselves off to the exhibition 'Colour Revolution: Victorian Art, Fashion and Design' at the Ashmolean. The premise of the exhibition was/is that invention of synthetic, commercial dyes meant that the Victorian era was full of dazzling new, vibrant colours. Apart from Queen Victoria in her many years of mourning. Here is one of her mourning outfits. We were both struck by how short she was.

I loved the military details on the front of the jacket.

This was also the moment when artists' paints in tubes became widely available, rather than artists having to grind their own. Here is one of Turner's pallets.

This flagon for communion wine was made around 1858 by John Hardman Powell

I love the pelican detail.

The Victorians rediscovered the rich colours of medieval manuscripts, one of which was on display. I'm not quite sure what this creature is supposed to be, or how the poor thing managed to get about.

Scientific discovery also influenced homewares. This plate from Minton and Co is part of the 'Naturalist' dinner service designed by William Stephen Coleman.

These bird studies are by Henry Stacy Marks.

One of my favourite pieces in the exhibition was 'Mariana' by John Everett Millais. You can't really see it in the photograph, but the blue velvet of her down shimmered and shone. She's supposed to be weary and longing to be dead, but she just looks like she's got a bad back to me. Serves her right for doing needlework in a draft!

I love the treatment of the light and shadows in the background....

....and this cute mouse.

The variety of colours newly available can he seen in this set of thread samples...

...corset...

...boots...

...shoes...

...and dress.

This book case (cabinet?) by William Burges was the star of the show.

I loved the illustration of the tortoise and the hare (note that the hare's cap is held on with a chinstrap. Handy given his speed)

...the rook in his preaching bands conducting cock robin's funeral...

...and this hippy, drippy Mary who appears to have wandered in from a rock festival.

In the home Victorian men could be peacocks, here is a smoking hat.

Up to this point, the exhibition could be summed up as here are some colourful things we had knocking about. Interesting, but rather bitty. the last room focused on three colours, which were seen to both evoke the 'new', and as if often the case with new, disquiet (this is 'Decadent young woman, after the dance' by Ramon Casas. Note the yellow colour of the her book, more of that anon).

Green - the colour of Oscar Wilde's carnation...