Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/valentine-cameron-prinsep-434" aria-label="More by Valentine Cameron Prinsep" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Valentine Cameron Prinsep</a>
Ayesha
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1887
actions: processes and functions
adults
bracelet
carrying / holding
cloak
clothing and personal items
earring
ethnicity
Haggard, Henry Rider, Sir, ‘She: A History of Adventure’
jar
literature (not Shakespeare)
literature and fiction
Middle Eastern
objects
people
vessels and containers
woman
<p>This painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1887. It was widely assumed to be a portrait of Queen Ayesha, from Rider Haggard’s story, <span>She. </span>The novel had been published the previous year, and quickly became one of the most popular in the late 19th century. Prinsep depicts Ayesha draped in colourful fabrics, holding a copper vessel, her arms adorned with heavy silver bracelets. He demonstrates both his technical skill and powers of imagination in this representation of a woman unrestrained by the conventions of Victorian society.</p><p><em>Gallery label, May 2019</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
1 January 2014 – 31 May 2014
2014-05-31
1 January 2014 – 31 May 2014
2014-05-31
2014-01-01
Mitsubishi Ichigokan (Tokyo, Japan)
2014-01-01
Art for Art's Sake
Loan-out
Ayesha
support: 902 × 698 mm
frame: 1195 × 998 × 140 mm
Presented by the Trustees of the <a href="/search?gid=999999977" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Chantrey Bequest</a> 1887
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<p>This painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1887. It was widely assumed to be a portrait of Queen Ayesha, from Rider Haggard’s story, <i>She. </i>The novel had been published the previous year, and quickly became one of the most popular in the late 19th century. Prinsep depicts Ayesha draped in colourful fabrics, holding a copper vessel, her arms adorned with heavy silver bracelets.  He demonstrates both his technical skill and powers of imagination in this representation of a woman unrestrained by the conventions of Victorian society.</p>
</div>

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2019-05-10T00:00:00
display-caption
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actions: processes and functions adults bracelet carrying / holding cloak clothing and personal items earring ethnicity Haggard, Henry Rider, Sir, ‘She: A History of Adventure’ jar literature and fiction literature (not Shakespeare) Middle Eastern objects people vessels and containers woman