Frederick Walker

The Harbour of Refuge

1872

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

License this image

Not on display

Artist: Frederick Walker 1840–1875
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 1168 x 1975 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by Sir William Agnew Bt 1893
Reference: N01391

Display caption

This painting was inspired by a group of elderly people seen sitting outside a church. The background was painted at the Jesus Hospital at Bray, near Maidenhead. The theme is the passage of time and the inevitability of death. Youth is contrasted with age, vigour with decrepitude, and death is symbolised by the scythe wielded by the young man. The old men beneath the statue listen to a man reading, but they also wait for the end of their lives. The warm glow of sunset signals the end of the day, but also provides an atmosphere of human resignation in the face of death.

Gallery label, September 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(42,289)
- garden structures(1,973)
  - garden(1,217)
  - lawn(109)
- periods and styles(5,410)
  - medieval(2,489)
- residential(5,712)
  - almshouse(5)
emotions, concepts and ideas(16,926)
- emotions and human qualities(5,366)
  - serenity(36)
leisure and pastimes(7,743)
- recreational activities(2,909)
  - walking(158)
nature(46,524)
- times of the day(1,968)
  - sunset(562)
- trees(3,337)
  - blossom(44)
  - tree(2,536)
objects(23,664)
- agriculture, gardening & fishing(1,035)
  - scythe(29)
  - shears(8)
- fine arts and music(3,771)
  - sculpture(691)
- domestic(437)
  - broom(52)
people(35,850)
- adults(23,435)
  - man(10,873)
  - woman(9,317)
  - woman, old(250)
places(42,589)
- UK countries and regions(25,025)
  - England(19,759)
  - England, South East(6,097)
  - England, Southern(9,228)
- UK counties(20,143)
  - Berkshire(753)
- UK cities, towns and villages(13,109)
  - Bray, Jesus Hospital(2)
work and occupations(14,389)
- agriculture and fishing(1,376)
  - gardening(145)
society(35,456)
- birth to death(1,460)
  - old age(80)
- health and welfare(705)
  - charity(28)
- family(4,136)
  - daughter(719)
  - mother(1,352)
symbols and personifications(7,285)
- birth to death(114)
  - death - reaper(8)
  - death - sunset(4)

You might like

Frederick Walker, ‘Study for ‘The Harbour of Refuge’’ c.1872

Frederick Walker Study for ‘The Harbour of Refuge’

c.1872

N02762

John Robertson Reid, ‘Toil and Pleasure’ 1879

John Robertson Reid Toil and Pleasure

1879

N01600

Frederick Walker, ‘The Vagrants’ 1868

Frederick Walker The Vagrants

1868

N01209

Frederick Walker, ‘The Old Gate’ exhibited 1869

Frederick Walker The Old Gate

exhibited 1869

N03514

John Robertson Reid, ‘A Country Cricket Match’ 1878

John Robertson Reid A Country Cricket Match

1878

N01557

Frank Holl, ‘Hush!’ 1877

Frank Holl Hush!

1877

N01535

Thomas Faed, ‘Highland Mother’ exhibited 1870

Thomas Faed Highland Mother

exhibited 1870

N01527

Briton Riviere, ‘Sympathy’ c.1878

Briton Riviere Sympathy

c.1878

N01566

Briton Riviere, ‘Giants at Play’ 1882

Briton Riviere Giants at Play

1882

N01516

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘The North-West Passage’ 1874

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt The North-West Passage

1874

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N01509

Thomas Faed, ‘Faults on Both Sides’ 1861

Thomas Faed Faults on Both Sides

1861

N01526

Thomas Faed, ‘The Silken Gown’ 1860 or 63

Thomas Faed The Silken Gown

1860 or 63

N01525

Sir William Quiller Orchardson, ‘The First Cloud’ 1887

Sir William Quiller Orchardson The First Cloud

1887

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N01520

Sir William Quiller Orchardson, ‘Her Mother’s Voice’ exhibited 1888

Sir William Quiller Orchardson Her Mother’s Voice

exhibited 1888

N01521

Abraham Solomon, ‘Not Guilty (The Acquittal)’ exhibited 1857

Abraham Solomon Not Guilty (The Acquittal)

exhibited 1857

T03615