Antique Reproduction Painting Titled `A Fallen Icon` by J Collier Copyright 1913 Framed behind glass

Antique Reproduction Painting Titled "A Fallen Icon" by J Collier Copyright 1913 Framed behind glass

This is a oil on canvas reproduction of a painting by British artist J. Collier (1850-1934)  titled 'A Fallen Icon' originally painted in 1913. This canvas has the following inscription: "47 Royal Academy London 1913 Copyright, A Fallen Icon - The Hon. John Collier, Reproduced and published by George Pullman and Sons London."

"In 1913, John Collier contributed A Fallen Idol to the annual Royal Academy summer exhibition. The painting depicts a young woman crouched in grief or shame at the knee of a slightly older man, who looks up and out into the distance, presenting his impassive face for our inspection. Viewers seized on the picture and its title, offering competing and often facetious answers to the question of which of the two was the fallen idol. The World noted that there was always a little crowd of speculators before the picture, and even after nearly three months of exhibition, public interest remained high enough that The Times published Collier's response to a correspondent who asked him to solve the riddle of his picture.1 When the tabloid paper the Daily Sketch sponsored a competition for the best interpretation of the problem picture, the editors were inundated with responses ranging from the serious to the satirical. Readers suggested that the woman was a bridge fiend who had become overwhelmed by debtThe unhappy lady was also alleged to have: neglected her dying child; confessed that she was a militant suffragist; ruined her husband's digestion by her bad cooking. He, in turn, was held to be a gambler, forger, cheat at cards, victim to drugs or drink, and even a Cabinet Minister.2 While the majority of respondents believed adultery (usually the woman's) was an issue, even this did not resolve the picture, as viewers debated questions of motivation and likely outcome. Had the husband neglected his young wife? Would he accept his share of responsibility for their marital difficulties, or would the matter end up in divorce court?"

Both the painting and the frame are in good antique condition but does show some wear consistent with age and use. The painting measures about 21 cm X 26 cm. With the frame the entire artwork measures about 27 cm X 32.5 cm. A very collectible and rare survivor of this reproduction.