Semele or Fireflies (1907)

"Semele or Fireflies" (1907) is a work by Arthur Bowen Davies. The catalogue places it in Mythology. The format is landscape. Mythology in brief: In European academies, history and mythological subjects ranked highest among painting genres, so they often appear on a large scale and with ambitious compositions. Artists from the Renaissance to the Symbolists returned to myth to explore love, power, fate, and transformation. About the period around 1907: The first decades of the twentieth century were a period of rapid experiment, with Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, and the first abstract painting appearing within a few years of each other. Posters, magazines, and illustrated books were major ways for the public to meet new art and design.

"Semele or Fireflies" is offered as a printable file (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI) rather than a shipped item. You receive the files by email after payment and handle printing yourself, which gives you full control over paper, size, and finish. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Mythological scenes add narrative depth and historical atmosphere, which helps them work as a central accent in classic as well as eclectic spaces. Measuring the wall before choosing a size is the simplest way to avoid a print that feels too small or too large. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour.

American, 1862–1928

If you like the visual language of Arthur Bowen Davies, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.