As one picture told about the main problem of England in the 19th century: "The Foundling Returns to the Mother" by Emma Brownlow

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

English artist Emma Brownlow is famous for her genre paintings. A favorite subject is the theme of foundlings in a London orphanage. Brownlow's most famous painting was The Foundling Returned to His Mother in 1858. This dramatic plot reveals the theme of the reunion of a mother and daughter. The work has become part of the artist's family history. Who was Emma Brownlow's father, and how is he connected with the famous canvas?

Foundling returned to mother

The painting depicts a dramatic scene of family reunification. The mother, who had once left her baby in a foundling shelter, came back for him. This is a young girl with big blue eyes, wearing a blue dress with a shawl. The head is decorated with a lace hat with an orange bow. A young nanny brought a girl about 4 years old to her mother. The viewer does not see her face, but it is noticeable that she has the same hair as her mother. The viewer witnesses a heartbreaking scene: the young mother was clearly overwhelmed with emotions at the sight of her little, but already grown-up daughter, and even dropped the document. It is likely that this particular paper was provided to her when she arrived at the shelter for the first time. Now she returned to give the secret document and take her daughter.

It is important to note that the young mother does not have a wedding ring. So she's still not married. However, other details of her appearance - well-groomed, elegant hat and shawl - prove her financial viability. At the feet of the girl lies another symbol of prosperity - a gift for her daughter. This is a marvelous box from which Mom just pulled out some lovely shoes, a hat, a doll, and a shiny ball. By the way, a doll in this context is not only a toy. She resembles a once abandoned child and the fate that the girl escaped thanks to the orphanage. The girl's mother is accompanied by an older woman who looks at the baby with interest (it can be a mother or a grandmother). The painting has an arched composition.

John Brownlow, who served as secretary of the Foundling Hospital for many years, rose from his office as a clerk to become director of the institution, was himself a foundling. Emma's father corresponded frequently with the writer Charles Dickens, who, like him, had a difficult childhood. It is believed that Dickens used his own experience and that of his companion in portraying famous characters. The author depicted him standing at the table. The viewer sees his signature on the receipt that fell from the woman. The hall is decorated with four canvases by the artists, which are more metaphorical than representative. They illustrate stories of children's mercy in religion, mythology and history. Thus, the author creates a relationship between foundling children with biblical characters.

The history of the shelter from the picture

Emma Brownlow's father, John Brownlow, was the director of the Foundling Museum in London. The hospital was the first children's charity in the UK and the first public art gallery. William Hogarth donated his artwork in 1740, prompting many artists, including Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds, to follow suit. Subsequently, the Picture Room was even created in 1857 to display art objects. Today, the collection of the hospital for foundlings is four centuries old and contains paintings, sculptures, prints, manuscripts, furniture, clocks, photographs.

Although the rehabilitation of unmarried women in difficult life situations was a significant goal of the institution, very few mothers managed to get their children back. The management of the shelters hoped that, having got rid of social stigma and temporary monetary burden, these women would be able to get on their feet and experience the joy of motherhood.

For example, of the babies adopted between 1840 and 1860, only 3% were returned to the care of their mother or other relatives. At the beginning of the 18th century, 75% of children under the age of five died from hunger or disease due to the disadvantaged position of Londoners. The management of the orphanage thoroughly studied the situation of the mother and made a decision - to return the child or leave in the orphanage. The orphanage strictly prohibited any contact between parents and children. However, there have been cases when parents secretly came into contact with them. Brownlow has written several scenes about the life of the orphanage. All canvases turned out to be very sincere, since they reflected her personal experience and her social consciousness.

"Foundling Returned to Mother" is part of a series of 4 pictures about foundlings by Emma Brownlow. Other works are "Baptism" in 1863, "Sick Room" in 1864, "On Vacation" in 1868. All works of the series, in addition to the main plot, have reproductions of paintings by famous artists who donated their canvases to the orphanage. Brownlow's Foundling Returned to His Mother is now in the Bridgeman Art Library.