The Devout Childhood of St Elizabeth of Hungary 1852

Editor: This is Charles Allston Collins' drawing, "The Devout Childhood of St Elizabeth of Hungary," currently at the Tate. It feels so serene, almost dreamlike. What strikes you about this work? Curator: It presents a deliberately constructed image of female piety. Collins asks us to consider the role of women, particularly young noblewomen like Elizabeth, as symbols of charity and religious devotion within a specific historical and social hierarchy. How might we interpret her posture of prayer in relation to the constraints placed upon women's agency during this period? Editor: It’s interesting to think about how her devotion might be both a personal choice and a societal expectation. I hadn’t considered that. Curator: Exactly. This tension highlights the complex interplay between individual expression and the power structures that shape our understanding of virtue and identity. Let's not overlook the political implications embedded within such seemingly innocent depictions.