Figure 1.-- 'The Governess' (1851-54) is one of Rebecca Solomon's early paintings. It is a kind of split image. The ell off mistress and master of the house gaze with affection at each other. The young woman had married well and now leads a comfortable life. The other half of the image is another genteel young lady. She is attractive, but with out family money and has not succeded in attracting a suitor. There were at the time vey limited career opportunities for genteel young women. One was to be a governess and live in the house of a propsperous family to care for their children. The governess can only imagine the family that might have been had she found a husband. And as a governess, the chances of doing so steadily declined as she grew older. The child here is often described as a girl, but is clearly a boy wearing a maroon velvet tunic. He also has short ringlets and pantalettes, white socks and strap shoes. Click on the image for a fuller discussion. | |