To the Memory of Reverend William Wilcox

To the Memory of Reverend William Wilcox by A.J. Healy

What are symbols of mourning?

Mourning imagery was popular in 19th-century American visual culture. The iconography of such pictures was rooted in classical, Arcadian influences drawn from a variety of sources, combining European literature, philosophy, and the fine arts with American cultural ideals. Often featuring a grieving female figure within an idealized landscape, the traditional mourning picture format is believed to have been popularized after the death of George Washington, America’s first national hero.

Medium
Oil on panel
Credit

Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chysler Garbisch

Item ID
1981.4.5
Dimensions
18 1/2 x 24 1/2 in. (47 x 62.2 cm)
Date
1829
Country
Artist name
A.J. Healy
Artwork location