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Let Sordid Mortals Search for Wealth (valentine), c. 1842. Creator: Unknown
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Let Sordid Mortals Search for Wealth (valentine), c. 1842. Creator: Unknown
Let Sordid Mortals Search for Wealth (valentine), c. 1842....This never shall my prayer employ. / Give me but competence and health. / I envy not their short lived joy. / Yet still on e hope I keep in view. / If there is bliss for me in store. / Oh! may I but be blessed with you. / I will not ask or wish for more
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Media ID 36264981
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
Allegorical Bridal Bride Bridegroom Brides Card Cupid Ephemera Flaming Torch Getting Married Groom Marrying Poem Ray Of Light Rays Of Light Romance Romancing Torch Valentine Valentines Card Veil Veiled Allegorical Figure Hand Tinted
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Let Sordid Mortals Search for Wealth (Valentine)," an enigmatic and evocative 19th century allegorical lithograph, portrays a young couple, the embodiment of love and contentment, standing before a backdrop of darkness and turmoil. The woman, dressed in a delicate, hand-tinted bridal gown, holds a veil in one hand and reaches out to her groom, who is clad in formal attire, with the other. The couple's tender gaze is fixed upon each other, their faces illuminated by a single ray of light. The allegorical figures of Cupid and a flaming torch are present, symbolizing the passion and desire that drives the couple towards each other. The poem inscribed at the bottom of the print reads, "This never shall my prayer employ. / Give me but competence and health. / I envy not their short lived joy. / Yet still on hope I keep in view. / If there is bliss for me in store. / Oh! may I but be blessed with you. / I will not ask or wish for more." This poetic expression of love and longing is a poignant reminder of the enduring power of human connection and the simple joys of companionship. The intricately detailed apparel, from the lace on the bride's gown to the folds of the groom's coat, adds to the richness of the image and transports us back to a bygone era. This beautiful and thought-provoking work of art, created in Britain around 1842, is a testament to the enduring allure of romance and the human desire for love and companionship. It is a treasure from the past that continues to resonate with us today, a beacon of hope and inspiration in an ever-changing world. The lithograph, with its hand coloring on ivory wove paper, is a rare and valuable piece of 19th century art, now preserved and displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago, a renowned cultural institution dedicated to the collection, conservation, and study of art and design.
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