Jungle Tales, 1895, James Jebusa Shannon.
"Shannon studied in London during the 1880s and remained there, enjoying success as a society portraitist and figure painter. Jungle Tales portrays the artist's wife reading to their daughter, Kitty, shown in profile, and another child. The painting's title and date and its London origin suggest the little group is captivated by Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, which had appeared in 1894...".
I saw this painting in The Met the other day and loved it - the power of a story to engage and enrapture!
What an enchanting picture! It's so evocative.
I was confused for a minute when you wrote that you saw it at the Met because I was pretty sure you lived in England. I realized, however, that you must be travelling because the link you provided was for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
I also noticed on the Met's web site that there's a Sargent exhibit there right now. He's one of my favorites, so I hope to get to NYC, only an hour and a half from me, before it closes. Thanks for all the information, intentional or otherwise. Enjoy your visit!
Posted by: Joan Kyler | 11 July 2015 at 04:46 PM
a painting I could certainly sit and gaze at for awhile. So atmospheric.
Posted by: Fran H-B | 12 July 2015 at 02:15 PM
It is such a wonderful picture, and very evocative - I would love to find a copy of it. When my two daughters were young Jungle Book was one of our favourites, especially The Elephant's Child. It was the first 'proper' story my younger daughter read on her own, and she was so proud she reversed the bedtime story roles and made me get into bed so she could read it aloud to me!
Posted by: Christine Harding | 13 July 2015 at 04:25 PM
I am sorry I was there too early for the Sargent, but what a wonderful museum!
Posted by: Cornflower | 13 July 2015 at 08:42 PM
It's lovely, isn't it?
Posted by: Cornflower | 13 July 2015 at 08:43 PM
How sweet!
Posted by: Cornflower | 13 July 2015 at 08:43 PM