The Fair Toxophilites (or English Archers, Nineteenth Century)

William Frith was born in Yorkshire and moved to London to work as a portrait painter. However, today he is known for narrative paintings that captured Victorian society at work, rest and play.

His work depicting young archers (toxophilites) was created as a fanciful representation of his three daughters, Alice, Fanny and Louisa (left to right). All were in their late-teens or early twenties at the time of painting. Frith exhibited the work at the Royal Academy in 1873.

The painting was valued as a novel family portrait and remained with Frith’s descendants, rarely exhibited, until acquired by RAMM in 1976. Since then it has become one of the most famous images of affluent Victorian leisure.

Frith’s comments suggest he did not consider the painting important in comparison to his major works, such as The Derby Day, and wrote, ‘I began work on a small work suggested by some lady-archers, whose feats had amused me at the seaside. I found sufficiently satisfactory models in three of my daughters… The subject was trifling, and totally devoid of character interest; but the girls are true to nature, and the dresses will be a record of the female habiliments of the time.’

Archery was a popular pastime for women of the upper and middle classes. Not only was it considered acceptable, they excelled at the sport. Artworks frequently depict their participation both in competitions and at leisure. If part of official clubs, women archers may have worn a uniform. Yet Frith chose to depict his daughters in day dresses. Archery was one of the few pastimes where men and women could mix, and both options for attire allowed the female form to be shown off while promenading or shooting.

At Louisa’s waist is a chatelaine from which useful items could be suspended. The green tassel was used to clean arrows after use and the notebook to keep score. The acorn-shaped containers held beeswax or a mixture of mutton fat and tallow to help the glove slide more easily off the bowstring.

You can buy a high-quality print of this work from Art UK.

Visual description: Three young lady archers stand together in the grounds of a grand, red-brick house that is visible in the distance. The central figure is drawing her bow ready to shoot. She is wearing a pale blue dress. Behind and to the right, another young woman in a red dress and cream coat stands holding a bow. Behind her, a third woman holds a pink parasol. All three have dark hair and are wearing hats.