The Dole of the King's Daughter

An essay by Diane Hickey – August 2001, University of New England, Australia

The artwork that I have chosen to discuss is the "Dole of the Kings Daughter" painted in 1999. I first saw this painting on a post card in a local art gallery. I fell in love with it immediately because of the beautiful girl who amazingly enough reminds me of my younger sister. The postcard did not have the full painting, only the top half and I did not realize until later when I started to do some research that there was a man in the painting at all. The painting is an oil on canvas, 750 x 950mm and although I have not seen it in its entirety I imagine that it is an imposing art work with its mystical feel and its life like figures.

The use of line in the grass surrounding the lake invokes a sensation of texture and the flowing lines of the girl’s robe convey a gentle blending with the scene. The delicate flowers on her bodice and the design of her gown suggest cultural association with the medieval times and contrast with the nakedness of the man and the angular lines of his chest.

The eye is immediately drawn to the figures in the centre of the painting; this is the positive space. The negative space or background is equally important in this painting as the two spaces are intrinsically melded. The use of the oblong in the centre of the work gives the feeling of depth or looking through a window into another world. The size of the figures in proportion to the water, trees and hills in the background and their placement lower in the painting also gives the illusion of depth.

I cannot be sure of the actual texture of the painting but there is a visual illusion of texture. The fine quality of brushstrokes used for the girl’s hair give it a soft, wispy quality and her face a milky, translucent glow. The water appears to be flowing rapidly and the use of a lighter colour and the downward brushstrokes towards the front of the picture gives the feeling that the river keeps flowing even though the painting stops.

The colour in this painting is visually appealing. The rich colour of the girl’s gown and hair contrast with the flesh tones in the man’s body. The intensity of colour in the centre as opposed to the surrounding frame draw the eye inward and gives the impression that you are being pulled into the painting. The use of the blue, green and grey give a cool hue and contrast, yet complement the colours in the figures. There is a balance and harmony in this work achieved through the choice of subject, colour and the positioning of the figures. There is also a sense of closure, as your eye tends to finish the shape of the figures and the surrounding scene.

The Dole of the King’s Daughter is a traditional Breton poem translated and made famous by Oscar Wilde. While researching this essay I found a copy of the poem at a Celtic website and have included it with my essay. The painting is based on that poem. After reading the poem I have a completely different slant on my perception of the painting. Unfortunately I think the King’s daughter killed her husband to be with her lover! All that and she still has that beautiful serene look on her face! In seriousness, I feel that the artist has portrayed a sense of love, passion and warmth in his painting. This is a theme common to many artists and is also reflected in other works that I have viewed by the same artist. There is a look of melancholy on the girl’s face, which is contrasted in the face of the man, which is unreadable due to his relaxed state.

Over the last few weeks I have carried a picture of this artwork with me to ask others their feelings about it based on their first impressions. I had an overwhelmingly positive response. People from varying age groups identified with the natural setting and admired the beauty of the painting. My two-year-old daughter has been carrying the picture around saying that it is "Aunty Chrissy", so my initial feeling that it reminded me of my sister was correct!

This painting appeals to my own interest in the medieval theme and its Celtic origins. The poem it is based on gave me a deeper insight into the painting and a greater appreciation of what is happening in the scene. After appraising the work my impression has changed slightly but my appreciation of it has not faltered. It is a fine piece of work and one, which Kim Nelson should be proud of.

Diane Hickey is studying for a Bachelor of General Studies/Teaching with the University of New England, Australia.
The above transcript was part of an essay for a unit on Visual Arts and Music.