Jungle Tales (Contes de la Jungle)
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
- 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
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.