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Jungle Tales (Contes de la Jungle)

1895
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 768
Shannon studied in London during the 1880s and remained there, enjoying success as a society portraitist and figure painter. (In 1922 he renounced his United States citizenship in order to accept a knighthood.) "Jungle Tales" portrays the artist’s wife reading to their daughter, Kitty, shown in profile, and another child. The painting’s title and date and its London origin suggest that the little group is captivated by Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, which had appeared in 1894. The intensely realistic faces contrast with the decorative patterns of the dottedmuslin and lace costumes and the elaborate design on the brilliant blue backdrop.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Jungle Tales (Contes de la Jungle)
  • Artist: James Jebusa Shannon (1862–1923)
  • Date: 1895
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 34 1/4 x 44 3/4 in. (87 x 113.7 cm)
  • Credit Line: Arthur Hoppock Hearn Fund, 1913
  • Object Number: 13.143.1
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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Magnolia, James Jebusa Shannon American, Oil on canvas, American
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Woman Reading a Book on a Beach, James Jebusa Shannon American, Watercolor and graphite on white wove paper, American
Woman Reading a Book on a Beach
James Jebusa Shannon
ca. 1891–96
Ernesta (Child with Nurse), Cecilia Beaux American, Oil on canvas, American
Ernesta (Child with Nurse)
Cecilia Beaux
1894
The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak, Albert Bierstadt American, Oil on canvas, American
The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak
Albert Bierstadt
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Fur Traders Descending the Missouri
George Caleb Bingham
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