Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A Mother's Heart (Through the Ages)

by Linore Rose Burkard

Okay, so I've missed Mother's Day.  I nevertheless wanted to share a special category of art prints that I just adore: Mothers and Children in History. What shines through these prints is the enduring, unchanging, undeniable love of a mother for her young. Whether she is holding, rocking, reading to, cooking for, or just gazing at her youngsters, a mother's love is unmistakable. Are you a mother? If you're like me, you'll recognize yourself in the following prints.



Georgian Era. French. One woman visiting a mother and her children.
 I'm especially fond of prints I find from the Regency or Georgian era since my historical novels are set in that period.
Very late Regency but pre-Victorian. Notice how the little girl is wearing attire very similar to her mother's.


1816 (Regency Era) Artist: David Vilain This little girl's gown also mirrors the mother's in style--though not in elegance. Notice the matching hair styles.

1809.  (Nursing) Mother and child.

1809. The same artist as the one above, perhaps?

Are you enjoying the mothers and children in these portraits? I hope so, for I have many more to share!

Artist: Adolf Eberle (Grandmothers count!)


"Afternoon Quiet" Artist: Edward Lansom Henry

"A Tea Party"  Artist: Thomas Webster. What mother of little girls has not overseen a tea party? :)

My homeschooling mother's heart loves this one. Mothers have been homeschooling forever. Artist: Bernard Pothast

Babysteps! (And we thought baby walkers were a modern invention.)

1826. Ackermann's print. The young girl's gown mimics the mother's, but with age-appropriate pantalettes.

Stylized, perhaps. By one of my favorite artists: Bouguereau.

The famous Duchess of Devonshire in a playful moment with her child. 

Another by Bernard Pothast. Mother reading to children.

"Breakfast Time"  Artist: Harry Bricker

"Good Morning, Baby"  (artist: Anon.)


"Grace"--(What all good moms do with their children)  Artist: Jeffrey T. Larson

One of Mary Cassatt's fabulous Mother and Child paintings. She's another of my favorite artists, and one of the more unsung masters of Impressionism. 

"The Wet Nurse"  Artist: Marguerite Gerard.  
 This fashionable French mama hired a wet nurse, as many upper class mothers did, but she is no less the loving mother, as her doting gaze reveals. 





      This was just a sampling of the prints I've collected, but I have to mind my blogging limits. :) 
I hope you've enjoyed them. It's nice to see that sometimes mothers have been recognized for their special role in the lives of their children--at least in works of art!  Blessings for all mothers, everywhere!



Linore Rose Burkard is best known for historical regency novels with Harvest House Publishers, including Before the Season Ends, the award-winning The House in Grosvenor Square, and, The Country House Courtship.


Linore teaches workshops for writers with Greater Harvest Workshops in Ohio, is a homeschooling mother of five, and is currently working on a YA novel. Keep up with Linore by subscribing to her free newsletter atLinore@LinoreBurkard.com

6 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures that make a mother's (and grandmother's!) stress level go down!

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  2. I really enjoyed this. My favorite picture was "Afternoon Quiet" with the Mom doing handwork with her baby on the floor in the carrier. Thanks for your interesting post. sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  3. Linore, this is such a delightful and beautiful collection. Thank you.

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  4. They do have a calming effect, don't they, Donna? Thanks for pointing that out. :)
    Sharon, I'm fond of that one, myself. There's a special peace when a baby is sleeping within our reach, as Donna noticed, too. (Plus, it's just a beautiful painting.) And Linda, I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I do! Cheers for moms and grandmas everywhere!

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  5. Hello, I recently bought this painting because I fell in love with it. I cannot find anything on the artist, looks like R. A. Bauer, let alone the painting. Can you help?

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  6. Which painting are you referring to? Count down, top to bottom, as they appear on this post, and tell me the number of the one you bought. I'll see if I can shed some light on your questions. I have quite a few mother and child prints myself, so I can understand loving any of these!

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