Arthur HUGHES
English 1832-1915
Fair Rosamund
1854
oil on wood panel
40.3 x 30.5 cm
Gift of Miss Eva Gilchrist in memory of her uncle
P. A. Daniel 1956
3334-4

Rosamund, according to a medieval story, was the mistress of Henry II and was poisoned by his wife, Queen Eleanor. The King kept Rosamund hidden from the world in a house that was surrounded by an elaborate maze. The Queen, jealous of her rival, found a way to penetrate the maze, after which Rosamund, 'lived not long'. The painting shows the Queen entering the garden. Rosamund is surrounded by flowers, symbolising love and pain and secrecy, her fall is symbolised by a broken plant, while her pastimes are indicated by the stringed instrument and the printed textile.