Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes

16"x11"
 
Archival Matt Paper
 
Artist Bio:
 
Edward Robert Hughes (1851–1914) was a British painter renowned for his Pre-Raphaelite-influenced watercolors and oils, seamlessly blending Romanticism and Aestheticism with literary and mythological themes. His works often feature ethereal women, showcasing his unique artistic vision while he also built a successful career as a portraitist. A student of his uncle Arthur Hughes and a studio assistant to William Holman Hunt, Hughes completed Hunt's iconic **The Light of the World** and became a respected member of the Royal Watercolour Society, celebrated for his delicate draftsmanship and luminous colors.
 
In his 1908 painting, **Midsummer Eve**, Hughes vividly captures the essence of a young woman enveloped in a moonlit forest, where ethereal, child-like fairies dance playfully around her. The artwork embodies the Victorian enchantment with folklore, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's **A Midsummer Night's Dream** to present a delightful and enchanting view of fairies at the summer solstice. Characteristic of the Pre-Raphaelite style, the fairies are depicted holding softly glowing objects, illuminating the scene with an enchanting, otherworldly glow that bathes the surroundings in a palette of soft pastels and shimmering golden light.