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Ethel
By Ralph Peacock

Ethel
By Ralph Peacock
In the Tate Gallery, London

Although Mr. Peacock had been known as a gifted painter for some years before he exhibited "Ethel" at the Royal Academy of 1898 (the year in which he painted the picture), the occasion marked his first great success with the general public. The canvas was purchased for the nation under the terms of the Chantrey Bequest, and is among the most popular of all those in the Tate Gallery.

The painter has caught the subtle charm of girlhood, and has pictured it in a singularly charming manner. While the pose is somewhat suggestive of Whistler, the colouring and general treatment are marked by the painter's own individuality, and it may be accounted a triumph for him that his work stands on its own merit, challenging no comparison, but only suggesting a similarity to that of the Master as an afterthought.

The young girl occupied with "the long, long thoughts of youth," is also the younger of the two girls in "The Sisters," which appeared in the Royal Academy two years later.

It often happens that the thoughts of youth are not quite what they seem to be. "Ethel" to judge by her expression, is meditating anything but mischief, yet at the time the picture was being painted, a daring thought was taking shape in her mind which she put into execution behind the artist's back.

"The sitter confessed to me, some years after," he told the writer, "that when the picture was finished she took a paint brush out of the studio, and put a minute streak of orange or scarlet right in the middle of the forehead as her sign manual. It is there still. I own I have never looked for it, but I am quite sure it is there if she says so."

From the book "Famous Paintings" printed in 1913.

Large files of this public domain print are available at Stock Photos at Songs of Praise
(Firefox users must click again on the large photo to see the very large image.)

Online "Name the Painting"

Ralph Peacock
at Art Cyclopedia

1908 Wedding Notice
New York Times archive

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2017-11-13 Hello June I am the grandson of Albert Brignall, Edith and Ethel's brother. Edith married Ralph. Ethel Married Harold Titcomb, a very successful US Mining Engineer, from Farmington in Maine, who secured commissions for Ralph to paint US President Herbert Hoover etc. I have several of his profile portraits and a painting Gladys Cooper but "Ethel" is currently on display in the Tate as an example of 1900-1910 painting Peter Hebard
2009-11-30 My husband is a direct descendant of Edith and Ethel Brignall. Their Aunt Charlotte Matilda Brignall, married John Jarman. John Jarman was his Great Grandfather.Do you have any dates for the marriage of Ethel and Ralph Peacock?? Please. June jarman June Jarman

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