William Bell Scott

The Eve of the Deluge

1865

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

License this image

Not on display

Artist: William Bell Scott 1811–1890
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 324 × 445 mm
frame: 620 × 745 × 115 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by Miss Alice Boyd 1891
Reference: N01322

Display caption

William Bell Scott was the son of a Scottish engraver. He came to London in the 1830s where he practised as an engraver and also exhibited pictures. He had close contact with the Pre-Raphaelites and their circle, chiefly through his friendship with Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In this picture he contrasts the debauched eastern prince and his court with Noah and his family who, only too aware of the significance of the ominous cloud in the sky, are entering the Ark.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

architecture(41,310)
- features(8,901)
- - balcony(142)
  - column(446)
- residential(5,561)
- - palace(468)
emotions, concepts and ideas(16,531)
- emotions and human qualities(5,350)
- - complacency(14)
  - hedonism(8)
leisure and pastimes(7,771)
- eating and drinking(744)
- - drinking(269)
nature(45,225)
- animals: birds(1,286)
- - stork(13)
- animals: features(743)
- - fur / hide(62)
- animals: mammals(4,879)
- - leopard(30)
  - lion(92)
- times of the day(1,838)
- - evening(356)
- weather(3,586)
- - cloud(1,759)
objects(23,363)
- clothing and personal items(5,879)
- - fur(27)
  - jewellery(96)
  - staff(109)
- fine arts and music(3,769)
- - instrument, harp(34)
- heating and lighting(855)
- - brazier(11)
- kitchen(642)
- - goblet(34)
- religious and ceremonial(1,733)
- - altar(80)
people(35,142)
- actions: expressive(2,631)
- - embracing(425)
- actions: processes and functions(2,147)
- - looking / watching(580)
- adults(22,742)
- - man(10,483)
  - woman(9,059)
- groups(5,184)
- - group(4,247)
- nudes(2,554)
- - female(1,664)
religion and belief(8,477)
- Bible: Old Testament(383)
- - Noah’s Ark(12)
society(34,938)
- transport: water(8,036)
- - boat - non-specific(2,209)
work and occupations(14,199)
- royalty and social rank(1,833)
- - courtier(69)
  - prince(45)

You might like

John Henry Lorimer Sir Robert Lorimer, A.R.A., as a Boy

1875
William Holman Hunt The Awakening Conscience

1853
Peter Graham A Rainy Day

1871
Robert Braithwaite Martineau The Last Day in the Old Home

1862
Sir William Quiller Orchardson Mrs Charles Moxon

c.1875
Edwin Douglas Alderneys (Mother and Daughter)

1875
Arthur Hughes The Eve of St Agnes

1856
Joseph Farquharson The Joyless Winter Day

exhibited 1883
Samuel Bough Holmwood, Dorking

1856
Sir Francis Grant Portrait of a Lady (? Mrs Edmund Peel)

c.1856
Sir John Watson Gordon Mrs George Baird of Strichen

exhibited 1862
George Frederic Watts Eve Repentant

c.1865–97

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Sir William Quiller Orchardson Napoleon on Board the Bellerophon

exhibited 1880
William Dyce Pegwell Bay, Kent - a Recollection of October 5th 1858

?1858–60

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Sir William Quiller Orchardson Charles Moxon

1875

In the shop

Browse the shop