Dimensions: support: 743 x 603 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: Sir David Wilkie's "The First Ear-Ring" shows a tender moment, focusing on textures and layered compositions. What strikes you first about its formal arrangement? Curator: I am drawn to the interplay of light and shadow which animates the figures. Consider the contrast between the soft, diffused light on the child's face and the darker tones enveloping the background. What does this juxtaposition suggest? Editor: Perhaps it emphasizes the importance of the moment, framing it within the darker space. Curator: Precisely. Also, observe how Wilkie uses color to guide our eye, from the rich reds of the mother's dress to the delicate whites of the child's gown. The brushwork, too, deserves attention. Editor: It does seem that every detail is meticulously placed to lead us to the first earring. Thank you, this has helped me appreciate its visual language.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/wilkie-the-first-ear-ring-n00328
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Wilkie painted his first version of this subject in 1821. He returned to it over ten years later, in response to a commission from the 6th Duke of Bedford. This time he spent nearly two years working on a series of sketches to resolve the composition and gather details of the figures. However, when this picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1835, the critic of The Athenaeum described the finished painting as a 'hasty and happy' little picture. Gallery label, September 2004
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