The artwork titled “Chelsea Workhouse: A Bible Reading (Our Poor)” was created by James Charles in 1877. It belongs to the Realism art movement and falls under the genre of genre painting.
The artwork reveals a serene scene of a Bible reading session within a parish or workhouse setting. A group of individuals, predominantly elderly women, are seated around a table, deeply engrossed in the reading. The figures are depicted in traditional 19th-century clothing, characterized by their bonnets and modest dresses. Sunlight streams in through a window, illuminating the room and casting gentle shadows, which emphasizes the realistic portrayal of the setting. At the far end of the table, a clergyman or reader appears to be guiding the session, while a young girl stands nearby, holding flowers. The room’s warm and homely ambiance is further accentuated by the presence of potted plants on the windowsill and framed pictures on the wall, imparting a sense of comfort and communal solidarity among the participants.
