1850-1860s
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Wood dolls were losing their popularity as the new china dolls gained in popularity. Wax dolls were still popular as were the
wax over papier mache.
wax over papier mache.
The Child
The Politics
The Traditions
The Architecture
The Literature
The Music
The Visual Arts
'Bubbles' was painted in 1885-6. It shows a boy
blowing bubbles with a pipe and a bowl of soap suds.
The boy was the artist’s grandson, Willie James, aged
about four: he later became an Admiral. To get round
the problems of painting the bubbles, the artist had a
glass sphere specially manufactured. Millais originally
titled his painting 'A Child’s World' but it was later
changed to 'Bubbles'.
Although 'Bubbles' may appear sentimental to modern
taste, it has a serious meaning. Millais was using a
symbol with a long tradition behind it. 'Bubbles' are
fragile and have a brief moment of beauty before they
burst. In the 17th century Dutch artists painted children
blowing bubbles to convey the brevity of human life,
the transience of beauty and the inevitability of death
blowing bubbles with a pipe and a bowl of soap suds.
The boy was the artist’s grandson, Willie James, aged
about four: he later became an Admiral. To get round
the problems of painting the bubbles, the artist had a
glass sphere specially manufactured. Millais originally
titled his painting 'A Child’s World' but it was later
changed to 'Bubbles'.
Although 'Bubbles' may appear sentimental to modern
taste, it has a serious meaning. Millais was using a
symbol with a long tradition behind it. 'Bubbles' are
fragile and have a brief moment of beauty before they
burst. In the 17th century Dutch artists painted children
blowing bubbles to convey the brevity of human life,
the transience of beauty and the inevitability of death
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Fashion
The world was torn with war-revolutions of 1849, Crimea, the Italian and American civil wars-all the while leaving Empress
Eugenia of France and Queen Victoria of England to set the social tone while subsidizing the Industrial Revolution. Both
leaders were intent upon developing the industries and societies of their respective countries. This was the period of major
explosion in industrial innovations from the home sewing machine to patents for new types of construction of the new bisque
doll. Paper products continued to be produced more cost effectively resulting in an explosion of magazines and patterns for the
lady of the house. Magazines began to include doll dressmaking instructions for the “young” lady of the house. More
The world was torn with war-revolutions of 1849, Crimea, the Italian and American civil wars-all the while leaving Empress
Eugenia of France and Queen Victoria of England to set the social tone while subsidizing the Industrial Revolution. Both
leaders were intent upon developing the industries and societies of their respective countries. This was the period of major
explosion in industrial innovations from the home sewing machine to patents for new types of construction of the new bisque
doll. Paper products continued to be produced more cost effectively resulting in an explosion of magazines and patterns for the
lady of the house. Magazines began to include doll dressmaking instructions for the “young” lady of the house. More
