Chivalry 1885

Frank Dicksee painted "Chivalry" during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by significant social changes and artistic revivals, including the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Here, a knight stands in shining armor over a vanquished foe, sword raised as if taking oath, while a woman looks on, her expression a mixture of fear and awe. Is she a damsel saved, or a woman witnessing a brutal act? Dicksee challenges us with the traditional heroic narrative, asking us to consider the cost of honor and the role of women in such tales. The gaze of the woman is directed away from the knight, which evokes questions about female agency and representation in Victorian society. This artwork mirrors the anxieties and expectations placed on women during a time of shifting gender roles.