Goodbye

Set during the English Civil War, a dashing cavalier bids goodbye to his fair maiden, who dabs at her tears in a grand stairway setting. The painting is a theatrical tableau in which the flamboyant cavalier is stereotyped for comic effect. His exaggerated pose is a picture of vanity, whilst the lady’s tears add to the melodrama.

The backdrop is left fairly sparse to focus on the lavish costumes. The plush feathers and the detailed lace-work of the cavalier’s collar are particularly eye-catching. These are offset by the lady in white whose attire, although luxurious, offers a comparative simplicity. The dress worn by the lady in Goodbye is the same as that worn in Tito Conti’s Paying her Respec...