Lithograph on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/harry-holland-1302" aria-label="More by Harry Holland" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Harry Holland</a>
Lovers
Purchased 1983
actions: expressive
adults
couple
embracing
female
male
man
nudes
people
sex
sex and relationships
society
woman
paper print lithograph
28 February 2014 – 11 May 2014
2014-05-11
28 February 2014 – 11 May 2014
2014-05-11
2014-02-28
Tate Liverpool (Liverpool, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/
2014-02-28
Keywords: Art, Culture and Society in 1980s Britain
Exhibition
Lovers
image: 136 × 115 mm
Purchased 1983
<p><a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/holland-lovers-p07806" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07806</span></a> <b>Lovers</b> 1982
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<br/>Lithograph 5 3/8 × 4 1/2 (136 × 115) on paper 15 × 11 3/8 (382 × 290) watermarked ‘Somerset England’, printed by Nick Hunter and published by Garton &amp; Cooke
<br/>Inscribed ‘W.H. Holland’ b.r. and ‘6/30’
<br/>Purchased from Robin Garton (Grant-in-Aid) 1983
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<br/>The following entry is based on information supplied by the artist in a letter dated 21 April 1986. It has been approved by the artist.
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<br/>Holland has explained that ‘The image originally derives from a subject which I reworked called “Roman Charity” a fairly common theme in the nineteenth century.’ ‘Roman Charity’ refers to the story of Cimon and Pero which was extensively interpreted by artists of the 16th to 18th centuries, most notably by Rubens and Caravaggio. It appears to derive originally from Valerius Maximus who, in his Factorum ac dictorum memorabilium libriIX, under the heading ‘De pietate in parentes’ (5:4) tells how the aged Cimon, a prisoner awaiting execution and therefore being starved, was visited in his cell by Pero, his daughter, who nourished him by offering him her breast. <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/b/baroque" title="Glossary definition for 'Baroque'"><span>Baroque</span></a> examples often emphasised the sexual aspect of the subject and the title of the present work alludes to the fact that Holland also has developed the image beyond its original status as an icon of filial piety. Instead, the artist has used a situation deriving from the literature of antiquity as a framework in which to consider the complexity of human relations and the conviction expressed is that sensuality and sexuality are pre-eminent in this.
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<br/>Although the artist made some preliminary studies for this work which are still in his possession, it was executed mainly from memory. Holland has not made any other <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>prints</span></a> on a similar theme but ‘Lovers’ is related to a <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> of the same name and similar design which is now in Belgium.
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<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/><i>The Tate Gallery 1982-84: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions</i>, London 1986
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-13T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: expressive adults couple embracing female male man nudes people sex sex and relationships society woman