Flaming June Frederick Leighton
No discussion of summer collapse can begin in anyway other than Flaming June. I used to think the lady's name was June when I was little and that possibly the painter was cross with her. Flamin' June! She must be the archetypal woman who can no longer cope with summer, but she does it so elegantly and with only a hint of nipple flash. I am going to pretend I look this elegant, sprawled on my sofa. You can't see me and therefore can't point out that I am more of a disorganised heap of womanhood rather than a gorgeously curled goddess. Moving on...
Midsummer Albert Moore
If you want images of summer heaps, then Albert Moore is definitely your man. This is such a lovely image and always reminds me of Flaming June. I wonder if Moore had seen Leighton's orange-y masterpiece when he produced this? Anyway, I want to be the one in the middle of this picture, gently fanned by my loyal handmaidens who really aren't muttering 'lazy cow' under their breaths.
A Summer Night Albert Moore
I like to think the one in the middle is laying there thinking 'Why does it always end up like this? Three bottles of Lambrini and a boob contest!' Actually, I find the palette he used for this one rather chilly, compared to that of Midsummer. Maybe someone turned the air-conditioning on? I really like the pale gold of the furniture, with the white drapes and the black lacquer. Albert Moore always seems to do jelly-mould boobs, it's most peculiar. They are solidly set, that's for sure. Incidentally, I have a boob jelly mould; it was a present and they also gave me some gold leaf to gild the nipples. Nothing says decadent jelly like a gilded nipple. Moving on...
Summer Pleasures (1890) Hugh Cameron
I get to go to the seaside on holiday in a few weeks time, I can' wait. I used to live by a beach and there is no more lovely feeling than cool water over your toes in the heat of a summer's day. Look, even the dog knows it in the picture above. Glorious.
July Sun (1913) Henry Scott Tuke
I have a soft spot for Tuke as he evens the score for the endless nudey ladies there are in art. Well done that man! He does a great line in collapsed young men in the sunshine too, so it's good to know it's not just the fairer sex who just can't cope. The man in the picture above is looking at the sea while sitting on a rock. Now, I don't mean to be picky but he can't be very comfy and surely he'd do better to go into the sea and cool down. Maybe he's waiting for someone? Hang on...
Noonday Heat (1903) Henry Scott Tuke
That's good. If you are going to recline in sunshine, do it with a friend. At least you have someone to talk to. One of these gentlemen is still vaguely dressed. What's that all about? Really, that's not in the spirit of it at all. How did he get into a Tuke painting with his clothes on? The water looks rather splendid behind them, all twinkling and clear, but they are too absorbed in each other. I do hope they are wearing suntan lotion.
Summer Morning Interior (1917) Ernest Townsend
This might win as my favorite image of summer as it is just beautiful. It is awfully Vermeer-y, and also reminded me of some of William Paxton's pictures of this era, although Townsend is at the far end of it. The parasol is delightfully furled against the wall, waiting to go out. It is an image of summer which is joyous and sensible. The woman looks happy as the sunlight streams on her face. She is literally all lit up. However, she is dressed sensibly, with a parasol to hand and is not venturing out in the heat, merely observing the glory of it from a window. Sensible lady.
When Apples were Golden and Songs were Sweet but Summer had Passed Away
(1906) John Melhuish Strudwick
Remember to take care in the sunshine, m'dears, and I will catch up with you at the end of the week...
