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Description: | Engraving. While a blindfolded man feels his way around a room, the many adults and children present try to remain just beyond his reach. A small boy cheekily tugs on the blindfolded man’s jacket. To the right, the commotion is used as an excuse to steal kisses and cuddles.
David Wilkie painted the original oil version of ‘Blind Man’s Buff’ in 1812. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy the following year, having been commissioned by the Prince Regent (later George IV), who paid the considerable sum of 500 guineas for the work. The painting remains in the Royal Collection today. An oil sketch, made in preparation for the work, is in the Tate Collection.
In the early 19th century, blind man’s buff was considered a rural game, played by soldiers and peasants, while blindfolding was used in art as a symbol of spiritual or moral blindness. This depiction of a particularly unruly game of blind man’s buff can, therefore, be viewed as rich in allegory. | Subjects: | genre breeches bench blind man's buff bucket 19th century costume door stockings domestic interior girl woman fireplace shoe elderly woman man coat broom kissing steps candlestick curtain chair window dress dog boy | Temporal: | 1822 | Source: | Government Art Collection | Creator: | Sir David Wilkie (Artist) | Identifier: | http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?... | Go to resource |
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