{"product_id":"the-pained-heart-sigh-no-more-ladies-arthur-hughes","title":"The Pained Heart (Sigh No More, Ladies) - Arthur Hughes","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Pre-Raphaelite scene inspired by Shakespeare, depicting a pensive woman and her attendant in a detailed, atmospheric interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArthur Hughes, a significant figure within the Pre-Raphaelite circle, painted this work in 1868. It draws inspiration from the song in William Shakespeare's play, Much Ado About Nothing. The title, Sigh No More, Ladies, refers to the lyrics that advise women to accept the fickleness of men.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition features a young woman in a deep purple gown, seated in a pensive posture. Her expression is one of melancholy, reflecting the emotional weight of the literary source. Beside her stands an older woman, perhaps a chaperone or attendant, who leans over a music stand. A lute rests on the floor, suggesting the musical nature of the scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHughes employs a characteristic Pre-Raphaelite attention to detail. The floral curtain, with its precise botanical renderings, provides a contrast to the sombre mood of the figures. The textures of the velvet dress and the patterned wall covering demonstrate the artist's technical skill. The lighting is soft, entering from the left, which illuminates the woman's face and creates a sense of intimacy within the domestic setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis painting captures the Victorian interest in Shakespearean themes and the idealised, often tragic, feminine figure. Hughes avoids the overt moralising found in some contemporary works, choosing instead to focus on the psychological state of his subject. The colour palette is dominated by warm tones, including ochre and gold, which balance the cooler purple of the central figure's attire. The work remains a fine example of the narrative style favoured by the later Pre-Raphaelites, who sought to combine poetic subject matter with rigorous observation of nature and costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/nl\/products\/ferdinand-lured-by-ariel-john-everett-millais\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eFerdinand Lured by Ariel by John Everett Millais\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/nl\/products\/the-lady-of-shalott-john-william-waterhouse\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/nl\/collections\/arthur-hughes\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eArthur Hughes artwork →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arthur Hughes","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59131435516239,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59131449573711,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59131449606479,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59131449639247,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59131449672015,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59131449704783,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59131449737551,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59131449770319,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59131449803087,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59131449835855,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59131449868623,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59131449901391,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Pained-Heart-Sigh-No-More-Ladies-_Poster_CompositorV1_1792117222442.jpg?v=1792139820","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/nl\/products\/the-pained-heart-sigh-no-more-ladies-arthur-hughes","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}