Terms and conditions of use
The importunate neighbour
1895
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
36.4 × 51.7 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1905
Gallery location
19th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
The importunate neighbour was inspired by a story in the New Testament of the Christian Bible where the importunate (persistent) neighbour knocks on his friend’s door, asking for bread to feed an unexpected visitor. The man’s anguish indicates that he has been refused his request. He persists, however, and eventually he is given bread and the painting thus illustrates the moral of the parable: ‘Ask and ye shall receive’. Hunt was a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood who shared a desire for accuracy and truth in their work. Hunt’s religiosity led to an infatuation with the Holy Land, and he travelled there often. Imparting fine details of architecture and costume that he would have seen on his journeys gives this work a great sense of authenticity.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in brown paint l.c.r.: 9 whh (monogram) 5
Accession Number
205-2
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Human Figures Relationships and Interactions
Subjects (specific)
courtyards dog (species) doorways men (male humans) night robes (main garments) visitors
Movements
Pre-Raphaelite
Provenance
Purchased from the artist, for the Felton Bequest, 1905.
Exhibited: Summer Exhibition, New England Art Club, London, 1900, no. 131; Exhibition of Oil Paintings by British & European Artists from the 17th Century to the Present Day, Centre for Adult Education, Melbourne, 1951, no. 10; Pre-Raphaelite Art, Adelaide Festival and State Art Galleries of Australia 1962, no. 43; Did I Love a Dream?, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1972, no. 6.
Frame
Original, maker unknown
Frame
The fundamental form here is the Cassetta (or little box) frame with applied ornament. We might want to think this ornament is carved in the manner of ‘truth to materials’ but it is cast – pragmatically formed in moulds and adhered to the surface.
It nevertheless remains a predominantly linear border around the work – in this case adding a decorative motif to augment the image.
It is indicative of the decorative style of frames used by Hunt, using more or less conventional C19th framing materials and techniques but reducing the form to low relief and broad scale.
Frame Details
Framemaker
Unknown - 19th century
Date
c.1895
Materials
timber, composition, gold leaf
Frame Condition
good original condition