Grace and William Orpen married in 1901, and the joy of their early years together is vividly captured in this intimate painting. Night (no. 2) is part of a series of paintings and drawings created by the prominent Irish artist in 1907, which are often described as domestic nocturnes. The setting for these works was a small house on Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea (now long gone), where the cozy, softly lit rooms resembled Orpen’s earlier interiors.
A key feature of this group of works is the centrally placed vertical window, offering a glimpse of the dark London sky. Orpen’s depiction, however, avoids any sense of gloom or confinement. Instead, the paintings radiate a sense of domestic happiness. While Grace is featured in most of the works, in Night (no. 2), Orpen includes himself as well. The artist leans over his wife, and Grace arches up toward him, their figures merging in the center of the image in an eternal kiss. The painting's warm sensuality is a bold expression for Edwardian times, reflecting Orpen’s precocious and unconventional spirit, which made him one of the most fashionable and sought-after artists of his era.
Beautiful, isn't it? Have a great Wednesday, everyone! Don't forget to check out our free online course. :)
P.S. Here are the most famous kisses in art! Do you know all of them?