Object of the Day, Museum Edition: Florizel and Perdita, Charles Robert Leslie, 1837

Florizel and Perdita
Robert Charles Leslie, 1837
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Charles Robert Leslie made a name for himself with sentimental scenes, but also enjoyed painting historical and literary images. Here, we see one of his most famous literary-themed painting.

With characters from Shakespeare's play A Winter's Tale, this richly painted scene depicts one of the best known moments in Shakespeare’s play. We see the charming and beautiful shepherdess Perdita ( who is really the daughter of King Leontes) with Florizel ( who is actually the son of King Polixines) with Dorcas, another shepherdess. To the right of the scene, we also see two other characters from the play, also in disguise—King Polixines and Camillo, a Sicilian nobleman.

A friend and biographer of the landscape painter John Constable, Leslie was American by birth, but studied and spent his later life in England where he found a devoted audience for his theatrical artwork.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: Florizel and Perdita, Charles Robert Leslie, 1837

Florizel and Perdita
Robert Charles Leslie, 1837
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Charles Robert Leslie made a name for himself with sentimental scenes, but also enjoyed painting historical and literary images. Here, we see one of his most famous literary-themed painting.

With characters from Shakespeare's play A Winter's Tale, this richly painted scene depicts one of the best known moments in Shakespeare’s play. We see the charming and beautiful shepherdess Perdita ( who is really the daughter of King Leontes) with Florizel ( who is actually the son of King Polixines) with Dorcas, another shepherdess. To the right of the scene, we also see two other characters from the play, also in disguise—King Polixines and Camillo, a Sicilian nobleman.

A friend and biographer of the landscape painter John Constable, Leslie was American by birth, but studied and spent his later life in England where he found a devoted audience for his theatrical artwork.

Painting of the Day: Florizel and Perdita, Charles Robert Leslie, 1837

Florizel and Perdita
Robert Charles Leslie, 1837
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Charles Robert Leslie made a name for himself with sentimental scenes, but also enjoyed painting historical and literary images. Here, we see one of his most famous literary-themed painting.

With characters from Shakespeare's play A Winter's Tale, this richly painted scene depicts one of the best known moments in Shakespeare’s play. We see the charming and beautiful shepherdess Perdita ( who is really the daughter of King Leontes) with Florizel ( who is actually the son of King Polixines) with Dorcas, another shepherdess. To the right of the scene, we also see two other characters from the play, also in disguise—King Polixines and Camillo, a Sicilian nobleman.

A friend and biographer of the landscape painter John Constable, Leslie was American by birth, but studied and spent his later life in England where he found a devoted audience for his theatrical artwork.

Painting of the Day: Queen Katherine and Patience, 1842

Queen Katherine and Patience
Robert Charles Leslie
1842

The popularity of historically-themed paintings began to wane during the Nineteenth Century and was soon replaced by an increase in commissions for oil paintings based on scenes from popular literature. Very often, history and literature overlapped. Here’s one such instance.


Charles Robert Leslie was one of the most prolific painters of the Victorian era and was a favorite of Queen Victoria herself. In this canvas from 1842, Leslie depicts Act III, Scene 1 from Henry VIII by William Shakespeare which was obviously based on the portly regent’s life. The painting shows Henry's first wife, Katherine of Aragon (Shakespeare's “Queen Katharine”), as she bemoans Henry’s growing estrangement. When the painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1842, Leslie included a quotation from the play.

Leslie’s representation of Queen Katherine was not strictly archaeological. In fact, as he did with most of his paintings, he combined the visual aspects and costumes of several periods. The depiction of Queen Katherine owes more to 1842’s fashions than it does the style of her own time, but her sense of distress is not hampered by her anachronistic costume. 

Painting of the Day: Queen Katherine and Patience, 1842

Queen Katherine and Patience
Robert Charles Leslie
1842

The popularity of historically-themed paintings began to wane during the Nineteenth Century and was soon replaced by an increase in commissions for oil paintings based on scenes from popular literature. Very often, history and literature overlapped. Here’s one such instance.


Charles Robert Leslie was one of the most prolific painters of the Victorian era and was a favorite of Queen Victoria herself. In this canvas from 1842, Leslie depicts Act III, Scene 1 from Henry VIII by William Shakespeare which was obviously based on the portly regent’s life. The painting shows Henry's first wife, Katherine of Aragon (Shakespeare's “Queen Katharine”), as she bemoans Henry’s growing estrangement. When the painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1842, Leslie included a quotation from the play.

Leslie’s representation of Queen Katherine was not strictly archaeological. In fact, as he did with most of his paintings, he combined the visual aspects and costumes of several periods. The depiction of Queen Katherine owes more to 1842’s fashions than it does the style of her own time, but her sense of distress is not hampered by her anachronistic costume.

Painting of the Day: A Portrait of Victoria, The Princess Royal, at her Christening, 1841

The Princess Royal at her Christening
Charles Robert Lesie, 1841
The Victoria & Albert Museum
A similar portrait of Queen Victoria in the same
christening gown resides in the Royal Collection.

The first child of young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert was baptized Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa, the Princess Royal on February 10, 1841 at Buckingham Palace. In attendance was painter Charles Robert Leslie who had previously painted the Queen.
Leslie made several sketches of the event, taking special care to represent the Royal personages who stood around the radiant child. The painter took great pains with his sketches of the infant whom he described as, “then three months old, and a finer child of that age I never saw.”

This small portrait of the Princess Royal was the result of those sketches and one of Queen Victoria’s most prized possessions. The Princess Royal would later become German Empress and remained a confidant to her mother until her death.

Painting of the Day: Florizel and Perdita, Charles Robert Leslie, 1837

Florizel and Perdita
Robert Charles Leslie, 1837
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Charles Robert Leslie made a name for himself with sentimental scenes, but also enjoyed painting historical and literary images. Here, we see one of his most famous literary-themed painting.


With characters from Shakespeare's play A Winter's Tale, this richly painted scene depicts one of the best known moments in Shakespeare’s play. We see the charming and beautiful shepherdess Perdita ( who is really the daughter of King Leontes) with Florizel ( who is actually the son of King Polixines) with Dorcas, another shepherdess. To the right of the scene, we also see two other characters from the play, also in disguise—King Polixines and Camillo, a Sicilian nobleman.

A friend and biographer of the landscape painter John Constable, Leslie was American by birth, but studied and spent his later life in England where he found a devoted audience for his theatrical artwork.

Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture: Vanity, Thy Name is Bertie

“Yours is pretty.  I’m just saying that my collar is nicer.”

Image: The Toilette, also known as The Necklace, Charles Robert Leslie, 1849, The Victoria & Albert Museum