Valentine's Day
This love-themed digital exhibition brings together works of art,
ten amorous scenes spanning four centuries,
The paintings, prints, photographs, and drawings chart
visions of love across histories.
From generous museums these artworks come,
images freely shared for everyone's gain.
Triumphs and tragedies, loves lost and won,
each an Open Access image in the public domain.
Welcome now to this online gallery,
zoom in to see each brushstroke, line, and face.
Read poignant poems for the works you see,
and trace love's journey through time and space.
Explore the Objects
Devoted Couples
And Lancelot ever promised but remain’d,
And still they met and met. Again she said,
“O Lancelot, if thou love me get thee hence,”
And then they were agreed upon a night
(When the good King should not be there) to meet
And part forever. Passion-pale they met
And greeted; hands in hands, and eye to eye,
Low on the border of her couch they sat
Stammering and staring; it was their last hour,
A madness of farewells.
– Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Guinevere" from Idylls of the King
There once was a bride of high birth,
Did they marry for love or for worth?
He gave her blue flowers,
In the garden's green bowers,
The sweetest match found on this earth.
They hold each other as the world falls away.
A ship departs across the water,
but they stay locked in their embrace,
as if love alone could anchor them here,
as if this moment were enough to last.
A pair of cats arranged just so,
the photographer coaxed them, patient and slow,
to pose for this feline Valentine's scene,
a charming duo, composed and serene.
Love's Mysteries
Roses are red,
Her dress is blue,
She holds a bouquet.
They're both looking at you.
He stands at a distance, watching her stroll,
a silhouette under the lamplight's warm glow.
The city appears in the twilight behind,
as his eyes follow a stranger who's not his to find.
She walks along, unaware that he's there,
this man in his coat with his lingering stare.
A figure the darkness helps her ignore,
a Valentine lurker no one's asking for.
Alas, I know a love song,
Sad or happy, each in turn.
– Breton folk ballad
She was more beautiful than dreams
And it is the caress of their hand
Our souls in languorous gestures
On the pale silver sofa
Life becomes precious, discreet
But it is the heart that beats too quickly
– Titles from Love, plates 7 through 12
Valentine's Day Gifts
My dearest love and lot divine
See pictur’d here your heart and mine
But Cupid with his fatal dart
Hath deeply wounded my poor heart
Dear Love this heart which you behold
Will break when you these lines unfold
Even so my heart with lovesick pain
Wounded is and breaks in twain
– verses from the Valentine: Puzzle Purse
Petals will scatter,
colors will fade.
But here on this canvas,
forever they've stayed.
About
Happy Valentine's Day!
We created and published this digital exhibition using Objects and Order's exhibition builder.
Watch the video to learn more about our object system for museum teams, arts and culture professionals, and collectors.
All images are Open Access or Open Content.
❤️ We’re always grateful to the museums and organizations that make so many of their collection images available for use.