Aurora Triumphans (also Known as Dawn) 1886

Evelyn De Morgan, an English painter associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, produced this painting around the turn of the 20th century. The visual codes here are interesting when considered in relation to the institutional history of art. While on one level it presents a classical allegory of dawn overcoming night, it may also be a comment on the status of women in the art world and wider Victorian society. De Morgan made this at a time when women artists were gaining more recognition but still faced significant barriers. The painting seems to reference traditional tropes of female representation, but perhaps with a subtly subversive intent. The nude figure garlanded with flowers could be seen as a reclaiming of female beauty and agency. To fully understand such artworks, we need to look not only at the paintings themselves, but at exhibition catalogues, critical reviews, and biographical material about the artist.