Oh! Give Dear All Thy Love to Me (valentine)
c. 1840
Medium
Collaged elements with watercolor and pen and ink on cut and embossed ivory wove paper (lace)
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 14.3 × 9.4 cm (5 11/16 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75816
Art Historical Context
This charming valentine, created around 1840 by George Meek, captures the intimate spirit of Victorian-era courtship. Titled *Oh! Give Dear All Thy Love to Me*, the folded card served as a heartfelt token of affection during a time when sending such greetings was a popular way to express romantic sentiments. Its modest size—just over five inches tall—made it easy to tuck into an envelope or hand-deliver, reflecting the personal nature of these exchanges in mid-nineteenth-century Britain and America. Meek employed a delicate combination of techniques, layering collaged elements with watercolor...