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Watercolour by James Smetham “The Tempest” c.1864

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Watercolour by James Smetham “The Tempest” c.1864 Shakespeare  The Tempest Theatre %%alt5%%
James Smetham – Scene from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” c.1864
Studies from an album of scraps from sketch books by Jas. Smetham.
The Tempest: Graphite/pencil with black ink, watercolour, coloured chalks and white highlights on paper. Backing paper: Blue Ingres, laid (1).
Provenance: A transcript of a letter written by the artist’s daughter will be included in the sale.

Shakespeare yielded the greatest number of literary inspirations for Smetham’s paintings, notably Othello of 1852, Miranda of 1856, Lear and Cordelia and Prospero and Miranda of 1864, Mariana of 1865, Trinculo and Caliban of 1868, Lady Macbeth of 1870, a scene from Coriolanus of 1873, Ophelia of 1874, and Ophelia’s Grave of 1876.

"The Tempest," first produced in 1611 as one of William Shakespeare's last plays, is a story of betrayal, magic, castaways, love, forgiveness, subjugation, and redemption. Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, and his daughter, Miranda, have been marooned on an island for 12 years, stranded there when Antonio, Prospero's brother, usurped Prospero's throne and banished him. Prospero is served by Ariel, a magical spirit, and Caliban, a disfigured native of the island whom Prospero holds as an enslaved person.

Antonio and Alonso, the king of Naples, are sailing past the island when Prospero summons his magic to create a violent storm, sinking the ship and sending the castaways to the island. One of the castaways, Alonso's son Ferdinand, and Miranda immediately fall in love, an arrangement of which Prospero approves. Other castaways include Trinculo and Stephano, Alonso's jester and butler, who join forces with Caliban in a plan to kill Prospero and take over the island.

All ends well: The plotters are thwarted, the lovers are united, the usurpers are forgiven, Prospero regains his throne, and he releases Ariel and Caliban from servitude.

James Smetham (1821-1889)

James Smetham produced over four hundred paintings during his lifetime. Like his good friend Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who was a major influence on his art, Smetham was a poet as well as a painter. He also wrote criticisms and recorded fascinating details on many celebrated personages of his day. His paintings ranged from portraits to Biblical interpretations, arcadian vignettes and landscapes. Smetham had great hopes and complicated theories about how audiences would understand and buy his art, but he was sadly disappointed with critical response. However, he received praise from some eminent contemporaries like John Ruskin, George Frederick Watts and Dante Gabriel Rossetti who hailed his friends' paintings as "the flower of modern art".
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CONDITION AND PRESENTATION
In our description, if a picture is shown to be framed then the frame will be included with the sale of the picture. Unless stated otherwise all unframed watercolours, drawings and prints have been mounted onto acid-free conservation board using either Japanese hinging paper or reversible wheat starch past. Unframed and mounted pictures are then wrapped in clear polyester film to protect both the picture and the mount. All conservation work has been carried out by accredited conservators.
Price
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$0.00  USA
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 The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 27/JUN/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
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 SOLD
 
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Great care and trouble has been taken to ensure that all details written for every picture are correct and the photos are of sufficient quality so that each item can be viewed in detail. If the purchaser can find a fault (by way of a photograph) as proof of damage in transit that is not present in our promotional photo i.e. a tear in the canvas, broken glass, broken frame, damage to surface of picture, then a full or part refund will be offered back to the purchaser depending on the extent of the damage. This will only apply within 24 hours of signing for the parcel.

If the parcel has arrived and appears to be damaged in some way please return the parcel to us (unopened) and we will refund the purchase price on receipt of the picture.

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DimensionsSheet: 112.7 x 9.5 cm. Backing paper: 27 x 21 cm.   Antique Pictures / Engravings / Art > Antique Watercolours Date c.1864  Mid Victorian Antiques Material Paper Origin English Condition Excellent Item code as176a789 Status Sold

SellerRadnorshire Fine Arts Ltd

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Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd


Radnorshire Fine Arts LtdPrivate dealer
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Powys
Mid Wales

Tel : 01982 570768

Non UK callers : +44 1982 570768
 
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Watercolour by James Smetham “The Tempest” c.1864
 
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