Oscar Wilde and the Picture of Dorian Gray
by Victoria De Almeida
Title
Oscar Wilde and the Picture of Dorian Gray
Artist
Victoria De Almeida
Medium
Painting - Acrylic On Canvas
Description
This is my painting of my favorite poet and playwright Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). He was famous for his book, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" in which a beautiful man sits for a portrait and then mourns the fact that he will never be as young and beautiful as he is in his portrait. He then sells his soul so that he will always remain young and the picture will age. I have portrayed Oscar Wilde sitting in front of the portrait of Dorian Gray. I painted the portrait behind him to also symbolize Alfred "Bosie" Douglas, the lover of Oscar Wilde who was the eventual downfall of Wilde's life. Oscar Wilde was sent to prison for 2 years of hard labor for being found out a homosexual. He had wealth, fame, and a beautiful wife and children, and he lost it all. His wife Constance Wilde and his son Cyril are in an antique frame on his lapel. He wears them over his heart (in mirrored view) because he did love his wife and childrden. However, it's the life hanging over his shoulder that overshadowed and overtook him. He wears emerald cufflinks and ring to represent his mother country of Ireland. To date, this has been my favorite painting ! Both Stephen Fry, who played him in the 1997 movie, "Wilde," and his only grandson Merlin Holland (lovely lovely lovely man) have a copy of it. Long live OSCAR!
Uploaded
March 14th, 2012
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Comments (15)
Victoria De Almeida
Met Oscar Wilde's Grandson Merlin Holland tonight at the Santa Fe Opera Symposium. He took time out from this speaking engagement to have me explain this piece to him. I presented him with a copy of this painting and he was so very gracious and kind to me. I honestly feel that having this opportunity to share this labor of love with Mr. Holland has really given me such a sense of purpose and peace in my art LIFE! What an honor and a blessing.
Victoria De Almeida
I sent Stephen Fry, the actor that played Oscar Wilde in the 1997 movie "Wilde" a canvas print of this. He wrote me a beautiful thank you card and told me that the piece is hanging in his study! Tonight I will have the honor of displaying the original of this at an Oscar Wilde Symposium here in Santa Fe, NM. Merlin Holland, Wilde's only grandchild is the keynote speaker and I hope to present him with a copy as well! What a blessing!
Victoria De Almeida
I sooooo loved painting this. Oscar Wilde truly was a genius. His story breaks my heart!