Sir William Quiller Orchardson, R.A., H.R.S.A.
'The Queen of the Swords' A dozen cutlasses, selected hastily from an old arm-chest, and whose rusted hue bespoke how seldom they left the sheath, armed the same number of young Zetlanders, with whom mingled six maidens, led by Minna Troil; and the
Found at
Christies,
London
THE FORBES COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN PICTURES AND WORKS OF ART, Lot 9
19. Feb - 19. Feb 2003
THE FORBES COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN PICTURES AND WORKS OF ART, Lot 9
19. Feb - 19. Feb 2003
Estimate: 100.000 - 150.000 GBP
Price realised: 83.650 GBP
Price realised: 83.650 GBP
Description
Sir William Quiller Orchardson, R.A., H.R.S.A. (1832-1910)
'The Queen of the Swords'
A dozen cutlasses, selected hastily from an old arm-chest, and whose rusted hue bespoke how seldom they left the sheath, armed the same number of young Zetlanders, with whom mingled six maidens, led by Minna Troil; and the minstrelsy instantly commenced a tune appropriate to the ancient Norwegian war-dance, the evolutions of which are perhaps still practised in those remote islands.
The first movement of the dance was graceful and majestic, the youths holding their swords erect, and without much gesture; but the tune, and the corresponding motion of the dancers, became gradually more and more rapid - they clashed their swords together, in measured time, with a spirit which gave the excercise a dangerous appearance in the eye of the spectator, though the firmness, justice, and accuracy with which the dancers kept time with the stroke of their weapons, did, in truth, ensure its safety. The most singular part of the exhibition was the courage exhibited by the female performers, who now, surrounded by the swordsmen, seemed like the Sabine maidens in the hands of their Roman lovers; now moving under the arch of steel which the young men had formed, by crossing their weapons over the heads of their fair partners, resembled the band of Amazons when they first joined in the Pyrrhic dance with the followers of Theseus. But by far the most striking and appropriate figure wa
Sir Walter Scott, The Pirate, chapter 15.
signed and dated 'W Q Orchardson - 77' (lower right)
'The Queen of the Swords'
A dozen cutlasses, selected hastily from an old arm-chest, and whose rusted hue bespoke how seldom they left the sheath, armed the same number of young Zetlanders, with whom mingled six maidens, led by Minna Troil; and the minstrelsy instantly commenced a tune appropriate to the ancient Norwegian war-dance, the evolutions of which are perhaps still practised in those remote islands.
The first movement of the dance was graceful and majestic, the youths holding their swords erect, and without much gesture; but the tune, and the corresponding motion of the dancers, became gradually more and more rapid - they clashed their swords together, in measured time, with a spirit which gave the excercise a dangerous appearance in the eye of the spectator, though the firmness, justice, and accuracy with which the dancers kept time with the stroke of their weapons, did, in truth, ensure its safety. The most singular part of the exhibition was the courage exhibited by the female performers, who now, surrounded by the swordsmen, seemed like the Sabine maidens in the hands of their Roman lovers; now moving under the arch of steel which the young men had formed, by crossing their weapons over the heads of their fair partners, resembled the band of Amazons when they first joined in the Pyrrhic dance with the followers of Theseus. But by far the most striking and appropriate figure wa
Sir Walter Scott, The Pirate, chapter 15.
signed and dated 'W Q Orchardson - 77' (lower right)
Despite a disappointment, a good price for William Quiller Orchardson
In February 2003 a collector was able to acquire the work 'The Queen of the Swords' A dozen cutlasses, selected hastily from an old arm-chest, and whose rusted hue bespoke how seldom they left the sheath, armed the same number of young Zetlanders, with whom mingled six maidens, led by Minna Troil; and the by William Quiller Orchardson for GBP 83,650.00 (€ 122,126.36). This price was achieved in the auction THE FORBES COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN PICTURES AND WORKS OF ART at Christies in Lond Despite this disappointing result, 'The Queen of the Swords' A dozen cutlasses, selected hastily from an old arm-chest, and whose rusted hue bespoke how seldom they left the sheath, armed the same number of young Zetlanders, with whom mingled six maidens, led by Minna Troil; and the is the most expensive artwork by William Quiller Orchardson that we have observed at auction so far.
Trotz Enttäuschung ein guter Preis für William Quiller Orchardson
Im Februar 2003 konnte ein Sammler die Arbeit 'The Queen of the Swords' A dozen cutlasses, selected hastily from an old arm-chest, and whose rusted hue bespoke how seldom they left the sheath, armed the same number of young Zetlanders, with whom mingled six maidens, led by Minna Troil; and the von William Quiller Orchardson für GBP 83.650,00 (€ 122.126,36) erwerben. Dieser Preis wurde in der Auktion THE FORBES COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN PICTURES AND WORKS OF ART bei Christies in London erzielt und lag noch unterhalb der von dem Auktionshaus angesetzten Schätzpreisspanne von GBP 100.000,00 – 150.000,00. Trotz dieses enttäuschenden Ergebnisses ist 'The Queen of the Swords' A dozen cutlasses, selected hastily from an old arm-chest, and whose rusted hue bespoke how seldom they left the sheath, armed the same number of young Zetlanders, with whom mingled six maidens, led by Minna Troil; and the das teuerste Kunstwerk von William Quiller Orchardson, das wir bisher bei Auktionen
William Quiller Orchardson - Auction history
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