Gothic Victorian

The images below i have chosen i feel represent my own understanding of the term Gothic, all my image are from the Victorian era exploring architecture, art and people from the time.

Lori McLean . (2012 ). mourning jewelry . Available: http://lorimclean.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/mourning-jewelry.html. Last accessed 24 Jan 2014 .

I chose this image of Queen Victoria as it represents the rich textural designs of the fashions at that time this was Queen Victorias mourning dress, the elaborate texture at the bottom of the dress drew me to this image as well as her facial expression the dull and lifeless look on her face to me expresses the dark and depression atmosphere of the victorian era.

Natural Beauty . (). Gothic Victorian Architecture . Available: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/29836416255373876/. Last accessed 24 Jan 2014 .

I loved the decaying element within this image it contrasts with the detailed design around the windows, this image also reminded me of a church something that was a large part of victorian life, yet the era atmosphere of this image creates a gothic feel.

Vincze Miklos. (4/13/13). The strangest tradition of the Victorian Era:Post-mortom photography. Available: http://io9.com/the-strangest-tradition-of-the-victorian-era-post-mort-472772709. Last accessed 24 Jan 2014 

This is an image taken by a photographer at the time of a traditional process very popularly used by the victorians of photographing the dead. This image has a very sinister element the little girl surrounded by her dolls dress up and wide eyed and perfectly placed creates a very unsettling feel to the image.

Terry Riggs . (Feb 1998). 'Ophelia' Sir John Everett Millais,BT .Available: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/millais-ophelia-n01506. Last accessed 24 Jan 2014.

Painted at the time of Victorian era from the book 'Hamlet' by Shakespeare 'Ophelia' killing herself in the steam is a very popular known image today i feel represents a gothic element the detailed lace dress floating in the river and a similarity within the post-mortom photography within the positioning of the arms and facial expression. Below is the quote from Hamlet.

There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds

Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;

When down her weedy trophies and herself

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,

And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up;

Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,

As one incapable of her own distress,

Or like a creature native and indued

Unto that element; but long it could not be

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,

Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay

To muddy death

BBC school radio . (). Life in a wealthy victorian family . Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/history/victorians/emily/emily_at_seaside. Last accessed 24 Jan 2014 .

I was drawn to this image due to the horse like carriages lined up next to one another later on reading that this image was taken at the sea side, the sea creates a foggy atmosphere creating an eerie feel to the image. The women in the group central to the image also stand out all grouped in their black dresses look very morbid and cold is a large comparison to our expectations of beaches today.