The artwork, titled “May Morning on Magdalen College Tower, Oxford,” was created by William Holman Hunt in 1891. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting embodies the Romanticism movement and measures 50.6 x 39.3 cm. This genre painting is housed in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, UK.
The artwork depicts a vividly detailed scene set against the towering architectural structure of Magdalen College Tower, Oxford, during the early hours of May Morning. A group of choristers dressed in white robes, adorned with floral decorations, are gathered in harmonious activity. The meticulously painted figures are singing, with expressions of devout focus and spirited participation, evoking a sense of communal celebration. The background showcases a brilliantly illuminated sky painted with hues of pink and blue, filled with birds in flight, amplifying the serene yet lively atmosphere of the occasion. The combination of detailed foreground and expansive background imbues the painting with both depth and vibrancy, characteristic of Hunt’s attention to naturalistic detail and emotional resonance.
