George Henry Boughton
Viola
1854-1874
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George Henry Boughton
Viola
1854-1874
Physical Qualities
Oil on canvas, 9-1/16 x 9-1/16 in. (23 x 23 cm.); Frame: 15-15/16 x 15-7/8 x 1-3/4 in. (40.5 x 40.3 x 4.4 cm.)
Credit Line
The George A. Lucas Collection, purchased with funds from the State of Maryland, Laurence and Stella Bendann Fund, and contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations throughout the Baltimore community
Object Number
1996.45.34
Born in Norwich, England, Boughton went to America as an infant in 1834 settling with his family in Albany, New York. Essentially, selftaught, he focused on landscape painting before traveling abroad in 1860. Following a brief period of study in Paris, he moved to London where his finely rendered narrative compositions became immensely popular with collectors in both England and America.
On the reverse of this painting, Lucas wrote a note about the subject “Viola, she never told her love (Shakespeare),” a reference to the heroine in William Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night, who suffered her plight disguised as a male.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by purchase, 1996; The Maryland Institute College of Art,
through Henry Walters, Baltimore, by bequest 1909; from George A. Lucas, Paris
through Henry Walters, Baltimore, by bequest 1909; from George A. Lucas, Paris
The Maryland Institute, Baltimore, "Exhibition of the George A. Lucas Art Collection", 1911, cat. #116.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "The George A. Lucas Collection of the Maryland Institute", October 12-November 21, 1965, cat. #33.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "The Lucas Collection", June 27 - Fall 1974, cat. #33.
Sona Johnston, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "A View Toward Paris: The Lucas Collection of 19th-Century French Art", October 1, 2006-December 31, 2006.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "The George A. Lucas Collection of the Maryland Institute", October 12-November 21, 1965, cat. #33.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "The Lucas Collection", June 27 - Fall 1974, cat. #33.
Sona Johnston, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "A View Toward Paris: The Lucas Collection of 19th-Century French Art", October 1, 2006-December 31, 2006.
Inscribed: VERSO, FRAME: BC, (upside down), 'Succession G.A. Lucas...'; stretcher [according to information typed on old card but obscured by cardboard backing on actual painting], ''She never told her love'/(Shakespeare)/G.H. Boughton'
