Artist: Jennifer Barton
Title: Unhistoric Acts
Media: Acrylic
Size: 24x24
Price: $1,500
Artist Statement:
The title of this painting is inspired by a passage from George Eliot’s Middlemarch, where the character Dorothea Brooke is described as having an “incalculably diffusive” effect on those around her. Her full nature, like a river redirected into many smaller streams, leaves an impact that is largely unnoticed by the world. In the novel, Dorothea’s actions are "unhistoric," yet they carry deep, noble significance. In my painting, I invite the viewer to reflect on the members of a congregation whose leadership is felt through their actions rather than their titles or achievements. This is a leadership practiced by both men and women—one that quietly nurtures, supports, and inspires others without the need for attention or praise. Through the act of doing good, they exemplify a noble, diffusive force, much like Dorothea in Eliot’s narrative.