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Student Artwork Guide

Dreamers

Name Class Date

Albert Joseph Moore, Dreamers (1884), Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery. Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Albert Joseph Moore artsdot.com/en/artists/albert-joseph-moore/
Artist’s dates
1841 – 1893
Painted
1884
Medium
Oil
Original size
70 x 121 cm
Movement
Aestheticism
Period
19th Century
Held at
Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery artsdot.com/en/museums/birmingham-museums-and-art-gallery-birmingham/
Artistic style
Neo-classical
Notable elements
Women dressed in white, elegant postures
Subject or theme
Four women resting in a room

In context

Dreamers — Albert Joseph Moore

How big is it?

The original measures 70 × 121 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1840
  2. 1850
  3. 1860
  4. 1870
  5. 1880
  6. 1890

Shaded: the lifetime of Albert Joseph Moore (1841–1893) ▲ this work, 1884

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/albert-joseph-moore-dreamers-AS844R-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Putty #d9b697

    Catalogued palette

    • #D9B697
    • #694C3D
    • #987353
    • #B89370
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Putty
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Albert Joseph Moore

    Born in York, United Kingdom

    early life and education

    albert joseph moore, a renowned english painter, was born on september 4, 1841, in york, united kingdom. he was the thirteenth son and fourteenth child of well-known portrait-painter william moore and his second wife, sarah collingham. several of his numerous brothers were educated as artists, including henry moore, r.a., a notable sea painter. albert moore received education at archbishop holgate's school and st. peter's school in york, where he also received instruction in drawing and painting from his father.

    artistic career

    moore's early works show the influence of ruskin, and by 1857, he had already exhibited at the royal academy, showcasing a goldfinch and a woodcock. his artistic style evolved over time, with a marked neo-classical character emerging in the 1860s. this period saw moore designing tiles, wallpaper, and stained glass for morris, marshall, faulkner and co., as well as working as an ecclesiastic and domestic mural painter.

    notable works and style

    moore's paintings typically feature single female figures with formalized proportions, neo-classical drapery, and floral accessories, establishing a major strand of the aesthetic movement. some of his notable works include:

    the marble seat (1865), a long series of purely decorative pictures

    elijah's sacrifice (1863), showcasing the influence of ford madox brown and edward armitage

    the loves of the seasons and the winds, one of his most elaborate and painstaking works, painted for mr. mcculloch

    museums and collections

    moore's work can be found in various museums, including:

    york museums trust (york, united kingdom), featuring paintings such as kingcups

    the royal academy (london, united kingdom), where moore frequently exhibited

    legacy and later life

    moore relied solely on his own judgment in matters both social and artistic, which sometimes proved a bar to his admission into the ranks of the royal academy. despite suffering from a painful and incurable illness, moore continued working until his death on september 25, 1893.

    view more works by albert joseph moore at https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/albertjosephmoore

    explore the york museums trust collection at https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/as844t-albert-joseph-moore-kingcups

    discover more about the aesthetic movement and its notable artists at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aesthetic_movement

    recommended reading: * albert joseph moore's biography on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/albert_joseph_moore * explore the york museums trust collection at https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/as844t-albert-joseph-moore-kingcups

    Museum

    Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery

    On show in Birmingham, United Kingdom

    A Sanctuary of Art and Industry: The Soul of Birmingham

    In the heart of the United Kingdom, where the rhythmic pulse of industrial innovation meets a profound reverence for aesthetic beauty, stands the Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery. Housed within a magnificent neoclassical edifice that commands attention in Chamberlain Square, this institution is far more and mere repository for artifacts; it is a living chronicle of human creativity and resilience. Since its doors first opened in 1885, the gallery has served as a cultural anchor, its grand facade and intricate cast-iron columns—masterpieces of Victorian engineering by Hart, Son, Peard & Co.—whispering tales of an era defined by both grit and grandeur. The iconic Big Brum clock tower rises above the cityscape, a steadfast sentinel that has watched over generations of art lovers and historians alike.

    To step inside is to embark on a journey through layers of time and texture. For the connoisseur of the Pre-Ralphaelite movement, the gallery offers an unparalleled encounter with romantic longing and meticulous detail. The halls are graced by the ethereal works of

    Edward Burne-Jones

    ,

    Dante Gabriel Rossetti

    , and

    John Everett Millais

    , whose canvases transport the viewer to realms of myth and intense emotionality. These masterpieces, characterized by their vibrant palettes and spiritual depth, represent a pivotal moment in art history where artists sought to revive the purity of the late Middle Ages. This evocative atmosphere is complemented by an expansive collection of European paintings, ranging from the dignified poise of Renaissance portraits to the fleeting, light-drenched moments of Impressionist landscapes, creating a sweeping panorama of Western artistic evolution.

    Beyond the canvas, the museum celebrates the very identity of Birmingham—a city forged in the fires of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Gallery serves as a poignant tribute to this heritage, showcasing exquisite ceramics and intricate metalwork that reflect the ingenuity of local artisans. These objects are not merely relics; they are tangible connections to a period of transformative social change, documenting the rise of factories and the expansion of urban life through a curated lens of photographs and drawings. This dedication to local narrative is further enriched by the presence of global treasures, such as the breathtaking 2nd-century sandstone Sultanganj Buddha, which provides a serene, transcendent contrast to the city's industrial echoes.

    The museum remains a dynamic and evolving space, constantly reinventing itself to captivate contemporary audiences. From celebrating the global cultural impact of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne in recent exhibitions to inviting families into the prehistoric wonders of

    "GIANTS,"

    the institution bridges the gap between high art and popular culture. Even its architecture tells a story of adaptation, as seen in the transformed Gas Hall, which seamlessly blends historical character with modern exhibition design. As the museum prepares for future milestones, such as the highly anticipated new Pre-Raphaelite display arriving in 2025, it continues to fulfill its mission: to foster curiosity and ensure that world-class art remains an accessible, inspiring sanctuary for all.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Dreamers

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/albert-joseph-moore-dreamers-AS844R-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Moore, Albert Joseph. Dreamers. 1884, Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery. https://artsdot.com/en/art/albert-joseph-moore-dreamers-AS844R-en/
    APA
    Moore, Albert Joseph (1884). Dreamers [Painting]. Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery. https://artsdot.com/en/art/albert-joseph-moore-dreamers-AS844R-en/
    Chicago
    Albert Joseph Moore. Dreamers. 1884. Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery. https://artsdot.com/en/art/albert-joseph-moore-dreamers-AS844R-en/
    Harvard
    Moore, Albert Joseph (1884) Dreamers. Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/albert-joseph-moore-dreamers-AS844R-en/

    Look closely

    Dreamers — Albert Joseph Moore

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: women sleeping, dreamers, neo-classical. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Idyll (1893), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Albert Joseph Moore was about 43 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.