THOMAS FRANCIS DICKSEE, 1860

Although he specialised in depicting subjects from the plays of Shakespeare, Thomas Francis Dicksee was a talented portraitist and renowned painter of historical scenes. Born in London, 1819, he studied for a time under the English artist H.P Briggs, and later passed his skills onto his two children, Francis and Margaret, with the former eventually becoming president of the Royal Academy in 1891.

Waiting seems not to be based on any specific historical source, but is rather a creation of Dicksee’s imagination as he envisions the idyllic scene of a beautiful young woman in period costume sat embroidering at a window. It follows from a tradition of Victorian history painting which represented the past in an ideal manner, emerging in reaction to contemporary concerns around rapid technological advancement and the effects of the Industrial Revolution throughout England at this time.

However, Waiting seems to hold a story beyond simple Victorian idealism, as the woman appears distracted from her work, and wears an anxious look, which along with the title of the painting tells us that there is something, or someone, that she is waiting on. The roses in the vase beside her are a symbol of romance, which could indicate that she is anticipating the return of a lover, but her pained appearance may suggest she has worries about the relationship. Ultimately, though, Dicksee leaves the reason for her waiting unclear, allowing the viewer to speculate for themselves the thoughts playing on her mind, and the truth behind her enigmatic expression.