01 work, PORTRAIT OF A LADY, Charles Edward Hallé's Archer, with Footnotes. #176

Charles Edward Hallé, (BRITISH, 1846-1914)

The Archer

Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt

Oil on canvas

36 x 28 in. (91.5 x 71.1 cm.)

Private collection

Within this work, Hallé demonstrates his interest in classical themes by depicting Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt and nature. Though tackling a mythological subject, Hallé stylistically expresses his alignment with the Pre-Raphaelites through Diana’s flowing auburn hair, pale porcelain skin and green eyes. Here the huntress turns on the viewer, gazing coolly out of the picture plane, with her bow and arrow trained on the spectator. This action is perhaps a subversion of the famous tale of Diana and Actæon as recounted in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. In the story, while out on a hunt, Actæon stumbles upon Diana bathing with her nymphs. Enraged at having been seen in such a state of undress, Diana turns the hapless hunter into a deer, whereupon he is promptly hunted by his own hounds as punishment for his indiscretion. In the present lot, Diana embodies strong and vengeful womanhood, as she is now placed in the position of power and confrontation. This subject was perhaps selected by Hallé due to the theme of female liberation, which was then at the fore in contemporary society, owing to the gathering momentum of the suffragette movement. More on this painting

Charles Edward Hallé (1846–1914), sometimes given as Edward Charles Hallé, was an English painter and gallery manager. He was a painter of history scenes, genre scenes, and portraits.

Hallé was the son of Sir Charles Hallé, the German-born pianist and orchestra conductor, who emigrated to England during the revolution of 1848. His younger sister was the sculptor and inventor Elinor Hallé. His first professors were Richard Doyle and the Carlo Marochetti when he entered the School of the Royal Academy in London. At seventeen years of age he traveled to France and worked with Victor Mottez, a student of Ingres. From France he traveled to Italy. He was attracted to the tradition of Neo-Classicism found in Rome.

Upon his return to London he exhibited four paintings at the Royal Academy in London in 1866, and then departed for Venice. He studied the techniques of the Venetian Masters and tried to paint in their style. He then returned to England and settled permanently in London. In 1877 with J. Comyns Carr, he assisted Lord Coutts Lindsay in the creation of the Grosvenor Gallery. In 1888 with Burne-Jones, he founded the New Gallery in Regent Street.

In 1909 he published his reminiscences, Notes from a Painter's Life, a valuable if somewhat cantankerous source-book. 

He exhibited frequently in the two galleries he helped found. His works have been displayed in the museum in Sheffield. More on Charles Edward Hallé

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