The Sleeping Beauty (1899)

Henry Meynell Rheam is the artist behind "The Sleeping Beauty", dated 1899. The catalogue places it in Figurative. The format is landscape. Figurative, a short history: Portraits, group scenes, studies of the nude, and pictures of daily life all belong to figurative art. Figurative art depicts people and recognisable scenes, and it has been central to European painting since antiquity. Context for 1899: Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form.

Buying "The Sleeping Beauty" means getting a digital file, not a physical print: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI, delivered by email once payment is confirmed. A 300 DPI file is intended for printing at home or at a local print shop, where you can choose a matte, satin, or fine-art paper to suit the room. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Figurative works draw attention to the human presence, the gesture, and the emotional tone, so they work particularly well as a standalone focal point in living rooms, studies, and bedrooms. A simple frame with a mat often helps an image settle comfortably into a room. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

English, 1859–1920

If you like the visual language of Henry Meynell Rheam, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.