Home > Animals > Crustaceans > Water Flea
Miles from Home (oil on canvas)
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Fine Art Finder
Miles from Home (oil on canvas)
2956890 Miles from Home (oil on canvas) by Dixon, Alfred (1842-1919); 60.96x101.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The little boy is the artists three or four year old son, Charles Edward Dixon, in an actual incident when he had been lost and picked up by the police, according to a notice in the Belfast Newsletter (June 1, 1876, p 3). Having escaped the clutches of the law, the boy grew up to become a famous painter of water traffic on the Thames. The Morning Post carried an amusing review of the painting when it was exhibited at the RA: The smallest figure upon this canvas is by far the most important personage of the scene. He is a mite of a child, certainly not more than three years old, who, having lost his way, has been taken by the police to a station-house, where he now sits at the end of a long bench, the very picture of infantile sorrow and bewilderment. There is something exceedingly tragi-comic in the disconsolate woe-begone air and manner of this tiny wanderer, as, with head slightly drooping on one side, he looks furtively from under his little hat at the gigantic policeman who has " run him in, " and who, standing in awful majesty, with his back to the fire, surveys him with some such expression of haughty patronage as an elephant might be imagined to bestow upon a flea. That august " Bobby" has not as yet quite fathomed the " Gainsborough" mystery, and he is still some what at sea about the Clerkenwell explosion: but on the present occasion he has on hand a case fairly within the compass of his professional abilities. He is proud of his capture, and evidently intends to make the most of him. So the prisoner is to understand that violence on his part will be of no avail to him, and that the best thing he can do is to submit patiently to his fate. Never surely were greatness and smallness brought into mere ludicrous contrast; but it might hurt the consequence of the " force" to be told what is nevertheless the fact, that the captive excites far more interest than does his captor. The group of sergeants seated at the table, and so zealously employed in making out their sheet of night charges as to be apparently unconscious of the presence of their burly brother in arms (or rather in truncheons) and of his prisoner, is highly characteristic, and the whole scene is depicted with a quaint, quiet humour not to be resisted. This is a clever and original work, full of drollery not unrelieved with a touch of homely pathos, so that one hardly knows whether to bestow tears or laughter on the lilliputian wayfarer who is " miles away from home." Why so good a picture should have been placed above rather than upon the line is a mystery past finding out by any one not in the confidence of the Hanging Committee. ); Photo © The Ms Gallery, London
Media ID 25501042
© The Maas Gallery, London / Bridgeman Images
Allotment Artists Son Backyard Bank Bank Building Bank Buildings Banker Bench Formal Gardens Front Garden Garden Scene Garden View Giardini Guard Guarding Guards Law Enforcement Lost Miles Park Benches Police Police Officer Police Station Policeman Protection Uniformed Waiting Little Boys Young Boy
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Animals
> Crustaceans
> Water Flea
> Animals
> Insects
> Fleas
> Related Images
> Animals
> Insects
> Mites
> House Mite
> Animals
> Insects
> Mites
> Related Images
> Animals
> Mammals
> Muridae
> House Mouse
> Animals
> Mammals
> Muridae
> Water Mouse
> Arts
> Artists
> D
> Alfred
> Related Images
> Arts
> Artists
> Related Images
> Arts
> Artists
> Y
> Art Young
> Fine Art Finder
> Artists
> Alfred Dixon
> Fine Art Finder
> Artists
> Rouen School
> Fine Art Finder
> Legal,banking & Political Scenes
Miles from Home
EDITORS COMMENTS
is a captivating oil on canvas painting by Alfred Dixon that tells the heartwarming story of a lost little boy and his encounter with the police. The focal point of the artwork is a small child, no more than three years old, sitting at the end of a long bench in a police station. His face reflects both sorrow and bewilderment as he gazes up at the towering figure of the policeman who has taken him into custody. The painting beautifully captures the tragi-comic essence of this moment, with its mix of infantile innocence and adult authority. The contrast between greatness and smallness is humorously portrayed through the juxtaposition of the tiny wanderer and his imposing captor. Despite being overshadowed by his captor's presence, it is clear that all eyes are drawn to this pint-sized protagonist. Dixon's skillful use of color and composition adds depth to this scene, while his attention to detail brings each character to life. The group of sergeants engrossed in their paperwork further enhances the authenticity of this slice-of-life portrayal. This cleverly executed artwork evokes both laughter and sympathy from viewers, as they contemplate whether to shed tears or share in laughter for this lilliputian wayfarer "miles away from home". It is no wonder that "Miles from Home" has garnered praise for its originality, drollery, and touchingly homely pathos. Overall, Dixon's masterpiece serves as an enduring testament not only to his artistic talent but also to our universal fascination with human stories - big or small - that resonate deeply within us all.
MADE IN THE USA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
