Art Collections Online

Pet

RIELLY, James (1956 - )

Pet

Date: 2000

Media: oil on canvas

Size: 198.0 x 167.0 cm

Acquired: 2001; Purchase; with assistance of Derek Williams Trust

Accession Number: NMW A 14221

We are confronted by a child with a black eye. She holds a toy dog with an identical injury. It may be imagined that the girl has been the victim of an accident or physical abuse. However, she is smiling, which introduces ambiguity into this unsettling painting. The subversion of an idealised or sentimental view of childhood is a recurrent theme in Rielly’s work.

Comments (1)

Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience.
Nerissa Vaughan
1 February 2012, 21:14
I came to the museum with my school Brynmawr Comprehensive, and this painting really impressed so many girls that i know as we all have decided to pick out parts of this painting and to draw and paint our version.
Back to Art Collections Online homepage

Browse artists

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All Other

Browse makers and designers

Browse by letter:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All