'The Gallery of HMS Calcutta (Portsmouth)' by James Tissot

            This 1878 painting by artist James Tissot (1836-1902) is typical of his work, depicting his subjects with almost photographic realism, with an ambiguous narrative that hints at risqué behavior among the wealthy classes approaching or transgressing boundaries of propriety.

Tissot's work depicts two women with a young man in a flirtatious situation, but with a dangerous sensual undercurrent of moral uncertainty. The man is dressed plainly in the uniform of a junior naval officer. Each woman is wearing a fashionable gauzy white dress decorated with bows and ribbons, with a tightly fitting bodice over a corset and full skirts below the hips.

One woman, in a dress decorated with yellow ribbons, is leaning over the railing of the ship's quarter gallery, turning her head away as she hides her face from the naval officer behind her fan. In the European hand fans in the 18th century language of the fan, an open fan over left ear indicates "do not betray our secret". Her hourglass figure is echoed by the curves of the gallery's iron railings. 

The second woman in the painting, wearing a dress with blue ribbons, may be a chaperone, or possibly the officer's wife: he stands beside her, and wears a wedding ring, but he only has eyes for the first woman. The overdressed woman have a touch of vulgarity. The presence of others in the party is suggested by a line of chairs beside the windows of the gallery: perhaps they are sitting out a dance at a ball on board. Several troop ships are in the background, under smoky grey skies. 

This painting was seen and photographed on exhibit (James Tissot: Fashion & Faith) at San Francisco's Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum.

Taken in: United States / California / Seacliff (show map)

Taken on: October 17, 2019

Tags:

James Tissot

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Legion of Honor

San Francisco

painting

HMS Calcutta

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realism

flirtatious

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Fashion & Faith

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Portsmouth

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Sets appears in: • James Tissot: Fashion & Faith

Groups appears in: • Ships and Vessels • Fashion & Style more » • art show • THE ESSENCE OF SHE • At the museum • Favorites: 20 • portraits of women • Museums and Galleries • Favorite Paintings • The Fashion Photography Group • Style is Fashion • Realism in Fine Art • Women Fashion • Treasures of Painting • The Best of ArT [P1/P2] • Fashion/Fine Art Photography • Photos at the Museum • Allure & Beauty of Vintage Women and Girls • Boats, Yachts And Ships (No 30/60 Groups Rule) « less

Camera: Nikon D300, f/3.5, 1/40 sec, 26mm (=39mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D300
Lens:	17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8-4.0
Aperture:	f/3.5
Exposure Time:	0.025 sec (1/40)
Focal Length:	26mm (35mm equivalent: 39mm)
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	+2/3 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Tungsten (Incandescent)
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7.1 (Macintosh)
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