Letters in Painting: James Hayllar

The Letter by James Hayllar

James Hayllar (1829-1920) was a British portrait and landscape painter. I am sure all of you know him because there is a very famous portrait of Queen Victoria painted by him and George Dunlop Leslie. 

This painting, The Letter (1892), is an example of Victorian art and it shows a man reading a letter he has just opened. In fact we see the maid behind him holding the envelope in her hand. His face looks quite surprised, don't you think? I wonder what news the letter brings.