Marianne Stokes: The Queen and the Page 1896
This painting is beautiful in every way it can be. The painting’s medieval manner is gorgeous, even the painter’s initials, especially the crown-shaped letter “m”, is beautiful. The artwork so delicately shows the admiration and silent emotions of the page toward his queen, that one cannot help but create a whole love story around the painting.
There must be a story behind it anyway, because on the upper side there is a long banner in German, about an old king, a young queen, and a handsome blond page, who loved the queen, because of which they must have had to die. The short poem, There was an Old King, was written by Heinrich Heine.
The young queen’s fine face is dreamy, with rosy cheeks, and a gaze graciously fixed on the ground. She is not lofty or arrogant. She is fully aware of the young man’s presence, as I am sure she requites his love. I feel an unseen bond between them. They are quietly longing for each other. Their unsaid feelings are shining from the painting like the crown itself.
As they walk far from the castle, which is visible behind the trees fading in the darkening evening, they are alone.
There was a king, now ageing,
With heart of lead, and head so grey.
He took a wife, the old king,
A young wife too, men say.
There was a handsome pageboy
With hair of gold, and thoughts so free:
He bore the silks with joy
That trailed behind the queen.
Do you know the ancient singing?
It rings so true: it rings so sweet!
Both had to die, of loving,
Of love that was too deep. – Heinrich Heine (translated A.S. Kline)