Numerous BYU students, curious visitors and people who have an interest in Victorian art attended the BYU Museum of Art's Celebration of May Day Thursday.

This celebration brought to the attention of BYU students and visitors the exhibition of "Masterworks of the Victorian Art" and entertained them with harps and bagpipes music, treats, beautiful carnations and free tours of the exhibition.

The exhibition consists of paintings, sculptures and works on paper who belong to famous Victorian artists including, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, George Frederic Watts and John William Waterhouse. These "Masterworks of Victorian Art" came from Europe and paused in their journey here at BYU in Provo.

Visitors will have the rare privilege to admire for free some of the most beautiful works of the 19th century. Some of these art pieces have not been seen in the United States. BYU offers this amazing opportunity to its students and visitors. The well-crafted Victorian art works are part of the private collection of John S. Schaeffer, an Australian businessman and entrepreneur who has built a close relationship with BYU.

The celebration of May Day begun with a lecture by Heather Jensen, a faculty member in the Art History department, titled "The Language of Flowers in Victorian Art." Jensen's lecture contributed to a better understanding of the significance and symbolism that flowers had in the Victorian paintings and why it was important for Victorian artists to use flowers and vivid colors in their works.

"Interest in nature was enormous in the 19th century," Jensen said. "Flowers were something that was available to all."

This exhibition reflects the day-to-day activities of normal people.

"Victorian art is accessible to students because it's generally realistic," Jensen said. "There is a story that goes with it in which people can identify and look their way in the painting."

May Day had its roots in the traditional English holidays and its purpose is to welcome warm and enjoyable weather. Little children will dress up to celebrate this holiday and will have little baskets filled up with flowers and will give them to their neighbors. Once Christianity became part of Europe, the perception about holidays also changed, particularly in regard to holidays like May Day, which was seen as a rural and pagan holiday. Soon after, May Day was replaced with the celebration of Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter.

May Day was reinvented by important English philosophers of those times, like John Ruskin who strongly encouraged the Victorian art painters to continue with their colorful and detailed paintings.

"There was a revival of interest in it," said Rita Wright, Museum of Art educator. "There's still this idea that there is a connection with the flower, something that everybody can have access to."

The opportunity for the BYU students and visitors to admire this collection will be available until Aug. 16.

eveline_radu@yahoo.com

Copyright Brigham Young University 5 May 2008