Castle on a Rock

Axel Herman Haig

1886

See More of the Collection

Half-length portrait of male figure wearing a grey jacket that ties in multiple places along the front and a wool hat. Behind him are five figures in outline. This series is a product of Jacovleff's involvement in the Expédition Citroën Centre-Asie.
A woman lays her arms across a table and rests her head down on them. Another figure stands in the background with a hand partially covering his mouth.
The Virgin Mary stands in the center of the composition holding baby Jesus. The two are surrounded by angels and putti. Two angels lower a crown onto Mary's head.
The paintings represents an allegory of music. Two tightly clustered men, a boy, and a woman shown at bust-length are singing from two sheets with musical notations and a book. The woman may be Euterpe, the muse of Music from ancient Greek mythology; she wears flowers in her hair. Central to the painting is the Black man who is looking back at the viewer. He is wearing a feathered turban and pearl earrings