She Walks in Beauty Painting

She walks in beauty is hand painted on antique book pages of Lord Byron poetry. Trinity College, Cambridge University, where Lord Byron studied acts as the beautiful setting for this painting. The poem ‘She walks in beauty’, which is the based for this painting can be found in the pages used in this work. “She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!" Lord Byron About Cain’s Work Cain creates beautiful and intriguing art imagery by painting carefully composed figures on vintage book pages. Any space between the figures exposes a background, which gives them context and narrative. The subjects are always turned away from the observer, seemingly engaged in the narrative, which remains magically elusive. As time continues to pass, the contemporary presence of the reader will age along with the older book pages. Interestingly, this ageing will be observed by future viewers of the painting. About the paintings production The work is painted on original book pages which are over 100 years of age and are mounted on using cotton duck canvas using kiln dried quality wood stretchers. The stretchers use aluminium dowels to ensure the painting is rigid, allowing the works to be hung without the need for framing (if desired). Works are 24mm deep. Stuart Cain