Understanding the Victorian Period: Its True Significance and Impact

What does the term ‘Victorian’ mean? I love this phase by Humpty Dumpty, in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland (1865) to describe the word ‘glory’:

“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, ‘it means just what I chose it to mean – neither more nor less.’

However, as Lionel Lamborne says in his book, Victorian Painting [1] Humpty Dumpty could just as easily be referring to the word ‘Victorian.’ Alice was simply asking ‘whether you can make words mean so many things.’ [1] In terms of the word ‘Victorian’, the answer is, unfortunately, yes. As Lamborne further states, “except for Victoria and Napoleon the name of no other nineteenth-century ruler has become more widely used as a stylistic term." [1] -- used and abused, I might add.

Definition of Victorian

What it is: The term Victorian is applied to the time of Queen Victoria’s reign in Britain (1837-1901). This 63-year period was a time of rapid advancements in science, engineering/technology, manufacturing, medicine, architecture and the arts that occurred on both sides of the Atlantic. These advancements defined the Victorian Age. In brief, there are four, somewhat arbitrarily defined periods that comprise the Victorian era – 1830 – 1850; 1850 – 1870; 1870 – 1890; and 1890 - 1910. [4]. To be considered truly Victorian, a house, furniture, decorative items and art, especially paintings must have been invented, built, manufactured, or painted during one of these time periods. No, ifs, ands, or buts. 

What it is not: Products made after the end of the Victorian era. Products that you see today advertised on line or see in big-box stores, among other purveyors of decorative goods, that are described as “Victorian” are modern reproductions or worse, not even Victorian at all. At best they maybe in a “Victorian style (operative word, maybe),” but they are not ‘Victorian’ and should not be considered as such. There are some good reproductions, but unfortunately, much of what is currently mass produced and masqueraded as Victorian “antiques” are usually low cost, poorly made and cheap looking knock-offs. True Victoriana is not that...at all! No matter how nice they look they will never, ever, be Victorian.

The Victorian Interior Style versus Taste

Regarding interior styles of the time, ‘Victorian’ is not a specific style in terms of colors, patterns, fabrics, furniture, fixtures, etc., but a period throughout which transitions in style occurred – no single style defines the Victorian era. Books, magazines and pattern books began being published beginning in the 1830s with Godey’s Lady’s Book; The Lady’s House Book in the 50s; House-painting: Plain and Decoration in the 60s; Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery & Other Details in the 70s; Scribner’s Monthly in the 80s and Vogue in the 90s, to name a few. guided interior design into the early 20th century. However, regardless of all the advice of experts, as the Victorians moved into the 1870s and beyond, the focus was more on taste, rather than style.

According to William Seale in The Tasteful Interlude, to the Victorians, the term ‘style’ pertained to design themes in purchased household objects, particularly furniture e.g., Renaissance bedroom set, a Louis Quatorze parlor table, or a Gothic wardrobe. Taste, on the other hand, simply meant judgement; a house was expected to be not only an essay on the intellectual judgement of its principal inhabitants but a lesson in judgement for the young. Taste, therefore, is the personal expression of the homeowner; what colors were used, how the furniture was arranged, selection of decorative and ornamental items, and where and how the ‘pictures’ were hung.

From the early simplicity of the early part of the period to the high Victorian of the mid-1850s – 1870s, with its “showy discomfort” in the words of Robin Guild in his book The Victorian House Book (a common image many associate with the word “Victorian),” and finally, a return the more simplistic and high-quality style of the late Victorian period, art in the form of paintings were a common ‘embellishment’ to a Victorian home. It was a statement of their personal taste.

The Importance of Art in the Victorian Home

Whether suspended from picture rails on plain or decorated cords, either ‘salon style’ (placed high up, one above another), or at eye level, art was an important part of Victorian decoration Paintings could be clustered together in a particular space in a parlor, hung above a fireplace mantle, or other prominent space to showcase its importance. Paintings, including portraits of family members, landscapes, floral and fruit still-lifes, historical and genre were selected to personalize the home.

Where did they get their art? They could commission artists, or visit exhibitions by leading art institutions (e.g., National Academy of Design in New York City and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Carnegie Internationals, among others, in the United States and similar venues across the Atlantic), where they could view and purchase art. There was probably no greater status symbol than to have your portrait painted by one of the leading portraitists of the day, or being able to purchase a landscape painting that had been exhibited, and perhaps even won a prize. In addition, most cities had art galleries where the public could view a variety of the latest in art trends. Even the large department stores were selling original art by well-known artists, some were exclusive purveyors of a select group of artists. Not only could you buy your furniture, rugs, drapes and bric-a-brac, you could also buy original art. A bare wall has no personality – the Victorians knew this.

What paintings would they have bought? The main style of the time was realism and romantic realism, with impressionism coming in towards the end. A landscape painted by one of the artists of the Hudson River School or Scalp Level School, or any of the myriad informal ‘schools’ where artists would paint and share ideas, would have been perfect. Other artists painted still-lifes, animals, or scenes of everyday life – so there was art for every person and every room.

Buying Victorian Art in Contemporary Times

What I think is the most egregious of all the mass-produced Victorian-style accoutrements available today is the reproduction of 19th century paintings (e.g. prints, giglees, and copies painted by modern artists). Yes, technology enables it, but, it’s a mere reproduction and cannot be considered Victorian; plus, believe me, there is a certain mystique that comes with hanging an original 19th century painting in your home. There’s nothing like it.

The biggest problems many people have with 19th century art is that: 1.) they don’t know any 19th century artists, so how do you know whether its ‘good’?; 2.) it is dark and ugly; 3.) it’s of a scene you don’t like (probably because its dark and ugly); or, 4.) you don’t like the frame.

You may not know the names of any 19th century artists – that isn’t important. What is important is that you love the painting. There is an emotional connection you feel when you come across that perfect painting. Educate yourselves, by all means, but buy what you love.

What you call dark and ugly is only the result of the passage of time. Remember, these paintings are over 120 years old. They have been exposed to the smoke of fireplaces, cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and if they resided in a home in an industrial area, the smoke from factories and furnaces. The varnishes used were naturally-derived and tended to darken with age. Paintings can be cleaned and revarnished, so that they look just as the artist intended -- bright, rich, vibrant colors with the original details, freed from their mask of grime.

Frames are probably one of the more problematic issues of Victorian paintings. Many frames have been damaged due to neglect – they can be repaired with a new or restored finish. Some are too ornate (‘gaudy’) for some tastes; these can be swapped-out with a less busy period frame. Often, the original frame has been lost and replaced with a ‘oh, so very wrong’ frame’ and must be replaced with an appropriate period frame. A frame should complement the painting and not detract from it.

Final Word

If you have a Victorian home, add authentic 19th century art. Channel your inner ‘Victorian.’

It is easier to buy a Victorian era painting than to buy and restore a Victorian house; however, I do not discourage you from the latter – we love our Victorian home, which also houses Bedford Fine Art Gallery. And the art provides a lyrical mystique to the gallery and our living space.

Even if you have a post-Victorian home, but you would like to capture the cozy comfortableness of the Victorian period, and a bit of lyrical mystique, scrap the big screen TV and add Victorian art. Embellish your home with what the French call “je ne sais quio,” and who wouldn’t like a bit of the continental?

So, does the term Victorian mean what you think it should mean now? Yes? Well then, tell Humpty-Dumpty to go sit on a wall – hopefully, tastefully decorated with 19th century art! And explore the world of 19th century Victorian art!

-- Joan Hawk, Researcher and Co-Owner Bedford Fine Art Gallery, January 10. 2025.

Use only with the permission of Bedford Fine Art Gallery.

References:

• Guild, Robin, 1992, The Victorian House Book, Rizzoli International Publications, New York.
• Lambourne, Lionel. 1999, Victorian Painting, Phaedon Press Limited, London.
• Seale, William, 1975, the Tasteful Interlude: American Interiors Through the Camera’s Eye, 1860-1917, American Art Series, Praeger Publishers, New York.