Study for Serene Hours 1886

Edward John Poynter made this chalk study on paper for "Serene Hours." Poynter was a leading figure in the late 19th-century British art scene, deeply involved in the Royal Academy and other influential institutions. Here, we see his academic training in the idealized human form. The figures evoke classical Greek art, a common source of inspiration for artists seeking to represent timeless beauty. But this wasn't just about aesthetics. It reflected a Victorian desire to connect with a perceived golden age of Western civilization. The study also reminds us that art doesn't emerge from a vacuum. Poynter's vision was shaped by the values of his time: an emphasis on order, reason, and a particular kind of beauty that reinforced social hierarchies. To fully understand "Serene Hours" and Poynter’s work, we can look into the archives of institutions such as the Royal Academy, and consider the social and political context that gave rise to this image.