Girl Caging a Bird

Image credit: The Bowes Museum

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

This painting can be interpreted on one level as a simple everyday scene, but the image of the bird (which appears to be a canary) being caged may carry a deeper meaning. Birds which have escaped can symbolise the loss of virginity, so this may be the case here. Because of their lightness birds symbolize volatility, flitting hither and thither, and so the girl's effort to cage the bird may be a hint at her personal attempt to lead a more virtuous life.

The Bowes Museum

Barnard Castle

Title

Girl Caging a Bird

Date

c.1860

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 25.6 x W 20.6 cm

Accession number

B.M.709

Acquisition method

bequeathed by the Founders, 1885

Work type

Painting

Tags

This artwork does not have any tags yet. You can help by tagging artworks on Tagger.

Normally on display at

The Bowes Museum

Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8NP England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue