William Gale

The Confidante

1857

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

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Not on display

Artist
William Gale 1823–1909
Medium
Oil paint on mahogany
Dimensions
Support: 248 × 171 mm
frame: 442 × 360 × 46 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1955
Reference
T00045

Display caption

The critic for the Art Journal said that this miniature painting showed two women ‘in earnest conversation’. But in fact they seem to be looking at an engagement ring. The title and the location of their meeting implies that the recent betrothal had to be kept secret. Narrative paintings of love and romance were very popular in the Victorian period, fuelled by love stories such as The Angel in the House by Coventry Patmore. The need to marry was particularly pressing for women who were financially dependent on men; they faced becoming social outcasts if they were unfaithful.

Gallery label, July 2007

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