"Married" by Walter Sadler 1869

To practise further analysing images in terms of composition, content, semiotics and context in this post I will look at this oil painting by Walter Sadler entitled "Married".

To start with the framing of the painting is open as we are aware of what is in the background which is highly detailed, the arch way framing the garden and hilly landscape behind the couple. If we distinguish the composition using the rule of thirds we see that neither person is either central or to the left or right of the image, this creates a focus upon the space between the couple, emphasised by the distance in the garden in the background. The shape created by the positioning of the mans arm is very guarded towards himself, and his flat hand creates a barrier between him and his wife emphasising the need for space and no disturbance. From the couples luxurious surroundings, large garden, well kept flowers we can interpret that they are relatively wealthy, upper class people. This is also evident from their dress, Victorian fashion which would have been acceptable to society at the time. Etiquette and apperence was of paramount importance in Victorian society even during leisure time, as the couple are here they are well dressed, sat up straight and a safe distance away from each other.

The image is not of a happy, newly-wed couple as there is no intamacy on what I think is just on the mans part. This is because if looked at closely the woman appears to be looking at the man from the corner of her eye, in particular his hand which from her perspective somewhat bridges the gap between them. The hairbrush and flowers, discarded on the ground at her feet, signifies her frustration with the keeping up of appearences and her wish to be closer to her husband. The line of the couple is rather harsh compared to the natural, elegant flow of the flowers and trees situated in the background and foreground which emphasises this cold atmosphere between the two. The colour scheme of the two, the woman more at harmony with the natural colour around her and the man cold and shadowy in contrast highlights the lack of warmth he has for his wife.

At the time, many men and women married out of necessity to people of equal class, wealth and a large estate were desirable qualities for men and women to have (women of course inherited wealth and status). It was therefore common for men and women to not marry for love, with women even marrying men far older than themselves so they could be "kept well". This is a subject which the painting describes, the man who is the beholder of the wealth as by him reading books we see his educated and therefore probably a business man and the woman does not carry such status and is portrayed as warmer as she is possibly greatful towards her husband for keeping her, her feelings might not amount to much more and she has a delusional perception of what love is . The woman is portrayed as the fairer of the two through use of white, light golden colours and delicate objects such as the silky cover and cushion which enshrouds her. This may have been done just for the simple fact that the common perception is that women are more nuturing and gentile than men.