© Victoria and Albert Museum, London


Name of Object:

The Governess

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Holding Institution:

Victoria and Albert Museum

 About Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Date of Object:

1844 (painted) 1845 (exhibited)

Author:

Richard Redgrave (1804-1888)

Inventory Number:

FA.168[O]

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

Height: 71.1 cm estimate, Width: 91.5 cm estimate

Provenance:

United Kingdom

Description:

The position of governess was one of the few professions open to middle-class women of modest means, but it was often a lonely and difficult life because the social status of a governess was ambiguous. She was not a servant in the usual sense but nor was she on equal terms with the family who employed her. Here, the young woman holds a letter which has obviously stirred memories of home. It may be news of a death in her family - letters or cards with black borders were used to announce deaths. Redgrave had a personal interest in representing the life of a governess: his sister Jane was a governess and died young.

Citation of this web page:

Victoria and Albert Museum "The Governess" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;uk;139;en

Prepared by: Victoria and Albert Museum

MWNF Working Number: UK 139

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