Richard Westall, R.A. (Reepham 1765-1836 London)
Lot 190

Richard Westall, R.A. (Reepham 1765-1836 London)

The Ghost of Prince Edward appearing to Clarence in a dream; Act 1, Scene 4 of 'Richard III'

Closed9 December 2015

Price Realised

GBP 1,875

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Richard Westall, R.A. (Reepham 1765-1836 London)
The Ghost of Prince Edward appearing to Clarence in a dream; Act 1, Scene 4 of 'Richard III'
indistinctly signed 'R. Westall' (lower centre) and with inscription 'Richard III Act 1st Scene 4th' (on the verso of the mount)
pencil and watercolour with scratching out
6 7/8 x 6 5/8 in. (17.5 x 16.7 cm.)

Specialist note

Westall worked on Shakespearean subjects on several occasions; his first project was the illustrations for John Boydell's lavish publication of Shakespeare's Works, which occupied him from 1795-1802. He subsequently painted five pictures for Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, all of which were engraved.

In the present scene Clarence tells his keeper in the Tower of London of the dream he had, in which he saw himself drown. He then visited the Underworld where he saw himself accused of all the treasons he had committed. Here the ghost of Prince Edward, whom he had helped to kill, appears and curses him and the Furies appear to drag him down to hell.