| The Governess | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Richard Redgrave |
| Year | 1844 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, genre painting |
| Dimensions | 71.1 cm× 91.5 cm(28.0 in× 36.0 in) |
| Location | Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
The Governess is an 1844 genre painting by the British artist Richard Redgrave. It depicts a governess who has received a letter, possibly carrying bad news, that has stirred memories of home. [1] [2]
Several versions were subsequently produced of the painting. [3] Redgrave made his reputation during the early Victorian era for painting sympathetic scenes of servants. The painting was displayed at the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1845 at the National Gallery in London. Today it is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington having been part of the 1857 gift by John Sheepshanks. [4] Redgrave had painted a prototype The Poor Teacher in 1843. When purchasing this picture Sheepshanks had persuaded Redgrave to make it look more cheerful by adding the playful children in the background. [5]
