Painting With A Story

The Pride of Dijon

Hennessy, William... Irish, 1839-1917

I acquired a reproduction print of this painting at a thrift store, and was able to look more closely at the details. It looks like a relaxing scene, but there is a lot going on.

If  you will click on the picture and let it take you to the source at Allposters, then you can use the magnifier and look at every corner. The first thing you might see is that the rug on the floor has a fringe that is turned over on the lower right side, as if the hem of the lady's dress had swooped it over as she walked over it before she sat down.

The wind, as well, might be blowing, causing all the roses to fall on the floor of the patio  where the lady and gentleman are sitting. A little table to the right holds two cups, one with a spoon, and both seem to be placed on some kind of cloth. The man is dressed formally and the lady, holding a fan, is wrapped in a fine shawl. Her dress seems to reflect the pale pink roses that are growing along the trellis and fence. The couple may have been to a formal event and now are visiting outside as the day grows darker.

I really like the black, wrought-iron fence around the patio, and the landscaping beyond, with the little road or path in a curve. I cannot imagine what they would be talking about but it seems to be serious.

When I hung the picture, I added a little shelf next to it, on which I placed a fan of a similar style, and a tea cup with a pale pink rose,  and then draped an old scarf on the frame, all to reflect the theme of the picture.

William Hennessy was born in County Kilkenny but immigrated to Canada when his parents left Ireland. He was an honorary member of the American Society of Watercolor Painters.

A fan, cup, spoon and floral ornament echoes details of the painting.