Sleeping Beauty John Collier (1850-1934)

In this painting, we see a scene of a young woman, presumably a princess, sleeping on a grand bed. Her long, golden hair spills over the richly patterned quilt and down the side of the bed. She is dressed in a flowing gown adorned with colorful floral motifs.
To her left, a woman with long, braided auburn hair kneels, richly dressed in a red gown. Her head is bowed, and her expression suggests sorrow or deep contemplation. On the right side of the bed, another woman kneels, this one in a vibrant blue and green robe. She buries her face in her hands, her posture conveying profound grief and despair.
The setting appears to be a castle chamber. A large, arched window with leaded panes looks out onto a sunlit forest. Faint heraldic symbols are visible in the upper sections of the window. The room is furnished with heavy drapery and an elaborately carved wooden bed. The floor is tiled in a checkerboard pattern.
The title Sleeping Beauty immediately brings the classic fairy tale to mind, suggesting themes of enchantment, cursed slumber, and eventual awakening and salvation. The presence of the two grieving women implies the long period of waiting and the sadness associated with the princesss predicament. The opulence of the setting contrasts with the somber emotions of the onlookers, highlighting the tragic stillness of the sleeping figure. The painting captures a moment of suspended animation, waiting for a fated kiss to break the spell.