The Wedding Breakfast by Frederick Daniel Hardy

A talk by Dr. Anna Maddison

Frederick Daniel Hardy was a successful and popular artist in his day and The Wedding Breakfast is a fine example of his work. Hardy specialised in scenes of everyday life, portraying the aspiring middle classes, and presenting idealised depictions of the rural working class. These latter works, often featuring cosy cottage interiors, show the influence of 17th century Dutch paintings of peasant life and were typical of the Cranbrook Colony of painters to which he belonged.

This talk considers Hardy’s work, how it reflected society at the time, and where it fits within the wider Victorian art scene.

The Wedding Breakfast. Frederick Daniel Hardy (1827–1911). Atkinson Art Gallery Collection.
Discover our collections here: theatkinson.co.uk/about-us/our-collections.

Dr. Anna Maddison
Dr. Anna Maddison is a researcher and lecturer in the History of Art and English Literature, specialising in the Victorian era. Her doctoral thesis addressed the influence of Victorian Spiritualism upon the work of Pre-Raphaelite poet-painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Dr. Maddison has 20 years’ experience of designing and teaching courses in higher education, working for the University of Liverpool (Continuing Education), LJMU, and as a freelance lecturer. She has taught at a number of art galleries over the years, including the Atkinson, the Walker, the Lady Lever and Tate Liverpool.

Object of the Month

The Object of the Month lunchtime talks take place on the second Wednesday of every month and highlight different objects from our fine art and social history collections. Join us as we discover the hidden histories of items across our collections, from painting, print and sculpture to craft, costume and ceramics. The programme is delivered by Museum and Gallery staff as well as a wide range of outside expert speakers.

Object of the Month talks are free. Donations to The Atkinson Development Trust are welcomed.

See the full talks programme here.