“THE GOLDEN TREE AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE GRAIL”
Galahad had been king of Sarras over a year when sailing one day, in his ship, he prayed that “when he might ask it, he should pass out of this world.” He is promised that his request will be granted and that then he shall see the Holy Grail unveiled.
In this picture the Golden Tree signifies his work on earth completed. As he kneels and makes his request, his sword and shield, now useless, fall from him and the Grail is revealed to his sight. Seven angels with wings of crimson surround him. The Grail is borne heavenward, never to be seen again on earth. Divine wisdom has been attained.
Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Where are the original paintings? Why did Mr. Abbey choose this subject? What preparation did he make before he painted these pictures? What was the legend of the Holy Grail? What power did the Holy Grail not have? What happened to King Amfortas? Why did Sir Galahad wish to find the Grail? What was required of the knight who should find it? What preparation did Sir Galahad make? What strange events made the other knights decide to follow Sir Galahad? Why did Sir Galahad fail when he reached the Castle of the Grail? How did his failure affect the people about him? Tell about the conquest of the Seven Deadly Sins. What became of the seven sins, and what does that signify? Tell about Sir Galahad’s final success.
To the Teacher: Pupils may be asked to prepare and give orally short descriptions of at least one picture; class discussions should be encouraged.
After the entire series has been studied, pupils may choose one of the pictures as a subject for English composition work. They will be interested in reading Tennyson’s Sir Galahad, The Holy Grail, or other selections from the Idylls of the King.
The story of the artist. Mr. Edwin Austin Abbey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is one of the few great American artists who has won fame both at home and abroad. Living in Philadelphia, he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, which he left at the age of nineteen to enter the art department of Harper and Brothers, New York City. His first success came as an illustrator for their publications. It was through the Harpers, too, that he went to England, for they sent him there to gather material for some poems which they wished him to illustrate. He was especially interested in literary subjects, and while in England prepared many of his best illustrations, among them those for Shakespeare’s comedies and for Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer.
His water colors and pastels were also very popular. His most important work in oils—“The Holy Grail,” is in the United States. When this picture was almost finished he went, at the request of King Edward VII, to paint a picture of the coronation. The groups of figures, with their elaborate costumes and rich coloring, offered every inducement to one who so loved these things. Mr. Abbey became very popular in England. He received many medals, and all possible honors both at home and abroad.