Description: W. Boucher after painting by Walter Dendy SadlerFriday, 1882EtchingDual signed in pencil by both the painter and the engraver16 by 29 inchesSome foxing evident, good condition Walter Dendy Sadler specialised in depictions of religious life, often portraying scenes from previous centuries. These religious subjects were not exempt from the light-hearted approach that characterised Sadler’s work, and this monastic banquet, with a Dominican order entertaining a pair of Franciscan friars, is shown in a delightfully amusing style. Traditionally, Friday has been considered a day of fasting in the Christian week, with all meat to be avoided in commemoration of Christ’s crucifixion. The Franciscans, in particular, were renowned for the strictness of the rules imposed in many of their monasteries; yet Sadler here allows himself a gentle dig at the monastic orders, suggesting that, while the monks are keeping to the letter of the law in their feast, the jovial atmosphere of the endeavour is perhaps less sober than might have been intended. This painting dates to 1883, and forms a pair with Thursday, which shows a group of monks fishing for their Friday meal. The latter was executed three years before this work; one of Henry Tate’s first acquisitions, it remains on display at London’s Tate Gallery. This piece, however, quickly became the better known of the pair, and remains one of the most popular exhibits at Liverpool’s prestigious Walker Art Gallery. This is one of a group of mildly satirical paintings by Sadler showing the domestic life of monks and friars which date from about 1865-90. Sadler depicts Dominican friars entertaining two Franciscans to a meal. Friday in religious life is traditionally a day of fasting, or at least the day in which no meat is eaten. Sadler’s friars are observing the letter of the law, but not its spirit, by settling down to a feast of fish. Sadler said of ‘Friday’: “I can recall no reason why I tried to paint monks, but I do remember that I never had a real monk as a model. I have studied them on the Continent, also at a small monastery in Crawley, Sussex.” Two years before painting 'Friday', Sadler completed a companion work called ‘Thursday’(Tate, London)which shows the friars sitting by the monastic fishpond catching the next day’s meal. The two paintings were clearly planned together from the outset, but ‘Friday’ became much the better known, and thanks to engravings and reproductions in books was for many years one of the most popular paintings in the Walker Art Gallery’s collection.
Price: 349.95 USD
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
End Time: 2024-03-12T21:22:24.000Z
Shipping Cost: 9.95 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Type: Print
Year of Production: 1882
Size: Large
Production Technique: Etching
