Dimensions: unconfirmed: 914 x 711 mm
Copyright: © The estate of Peter Greenham. All Rights Reserved 2010 / Bridgeman Art Library | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is Peter Greenham's "Lady Bonham Carter," currently housed at the Tate. The painting strikes me as very serene, almost dreamlike. What symbolic weight do you think this image carries? Curator: Notice how the subject's eyes are closed. This can signify introspection, a turning inward. The pearl necklace and bracelet, small circles of light, may represent wholeness or the cyclical nature of time. What emotions do those symbols evoke for you? Editor: They suggest a sense of calm acceptance, a peaceful reflection on a life lived. Perhaps the artist wanted to capture the essence of her wisdom and experience? Curator: Precisely. The closed eyes invite us to contemplate not just what we see, but what lies beneath the surface, the inner life. We glimpse not just Lady Bonham Carter, but an enduring symbol of grace and reflection. Editor: That is so interesting. I had not considered those layers of symbolism. Thank you.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/greenham-lady-bonham-carter-t06656
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Lady (Charlotte) Bonham Carter, née Wickham (1893-1989) was an indefatigable lover of the arts and a generous patron. In the First World War she served in the War Office. In the Second, having qualified as a pilot, she was a photographic interpreter with the RAF. She also served in local government. This portrait, commissioned by a group of her friends, came to the Tate by her wish. She is shown wearing a gown designed by Fortuny, which she bought from him in Venice in 1922. The sittings were in Greenham's studio at the Royal Academy, where he was Keeper. A second portrait is in Southampton Art Gallery. Gallery label, August 2004
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