The artwork titled “The boat with the dead Maid of Astolat before the palace at Westminster” is an illustration by Arthur Rackham, an artist associated with the Art Nouveau movement. This piece is part of a series accompanying “The Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table,” as interpreted by Nelly Montijn-De Fouw. The genre of this artwork is an illustration, which was a common form of Rackham’s visual storytelling.
In the illustration, a sense of somber narrative is conveyed through the depiction of the dead Maid of Astolat lying in a boat. The boat appears to be gently coming ashore at what is to be understood as the palace at Westminster. The Maid is adorned in a flowing gown, her final resting pose serene amidst the surrounding circumstances. A figure, perhaps a boatman or someone discovering the scene, reaches towards her, suggesting the discovery of her fate. An onlooking crowd gathers in the background, their expressions and attire indicative of the period setting and emphasizing the tragic discovery. Rackham’s use of muted earth tones, combined with the delicate line work and attention to detail, are characteristic of the Art Nouveau style, adding to the artwork’s emotional and historical depth.
