Summary:

• Item: Richard III Oil Paining
• Artist: Unknown
• Medium: Oil on board
• Circa: 1800 – 1830
• Period: Late Georgian / Early Victorian
• Provenance: England, UK
• Inspired by David Garrick in William Hogarth’s painting
• William Shakespeare’s Play 31: King Richard III
• Extremely well painted
• Natural rich colours
• Original slip & mahogany frame
• Excellent original condition
• Height: 65cm / 25⅝” / 2ft 1⅝”
• Width: 54cm / 21¼” / 1ft 9¼”
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• 14-day free UK returns policy

Description:

This is a fine quality antique English oil painting believed to be of King Richard III, played by David Garrick in William Hogarth’s painting, based on William Shakespeare’s King Richard III theatrical play, painted on board, circa 1800 – 1830, in excellent original condition.

Inspired by William Hogarth’s famous painting of Richard III, it depicts Richard III before the battle of Bosworth sitting in an armchair in his tent, terrified as he awakes from his dreams, where he recalls his murdered victims and seeing their ghosts.  Also startled by the sound of two knights entering his tent, whilst his armour is thrown at his feet.

The painting has the skill to draw you in with its range of rich colours, dark hues and texture depicting this famous play by William Shakespeare.  The oil on board is framed in its original ornate slip and mahogany frame.

Normally considered to be one of William Shakespeare’s history plays, King Richard III may have been intended as a tragedy, and is second only to Hamlet in its length. It’s likely to have been written in 1592-93, a period when London theatres were closed because of an epidemic of plague. It has proved one of his most enduringly popular history plays, attracting many stars for its lead role, and has been popular with painters too (source: https://eclecticlight.co/2023/01/16/paintings-of-william-shakespeares-plays-31-king-richard-iii/).

This King Richard III oil painting would look superb in a variety of rooms, including the hallway, living room or bedroom.  This item would certainly grace any home and is a great investment as it is an attractive and colourful piece.

History of Richard III:

Normally considered to be one of William Shakespeare’s history plays, King Richard III may have been intended as a tragedy, and is second only to Hamlet in its length. It’s likely to have been written in 1592-93, a period when London theatres were closed because of an epidemic of plague. It has proved one of his most enduringly popular history plays, attracting many stars for its lead role, and has been popular with painters too.

The real King Richard III of England (1452-1485) reigned for only two years, from 1483 to his death in 1485 at the age of thirty-two, a point generally taken as marking the end of the Middle Ages in England. In spite of the brevity of his reign, it saw two major rebellions, the second resulting in the Battle of Bosworth Field, where Richard was defeated and killed. He was the last English monarch to die in battle.

Richard, as the Duke of Gloucester, is plotting the downfall of his older brothers King Edward IV and George, Duke of Clarence. He turns the King against Clarence, who is then imprisoned in the Tower of London. He next tries to woo Lady Anne Neville, admitting to her that he killed Henry VI and his son, Anne’s husband.

Lady Anne reluctantly gives in to his advances. With the illness of King Edward, Richard is expected to become Prince Edward’s protector. Richard sends two murderers to kill Clarence in the Tower.

Clarence has a nightmare in which Gloucester pushes him overboard, causing him to drown. He is woken up by the two murderers, who kill him.

King Edward hears of Clarence’s death, but thinks that he had cancelled his death warrant. The news puts the Duchess of York and Queen Elizabeth into grief, and fear for the safety of King Edward’s children. The Queen then hears of the imprisonment of her brother and one of her young sons from her previous marriage, so takes her younger son, the Duke of York, and her mother-in-law to sanctuary.

Prince Edward, the King’s eldest son, is brought to London, and the Duke of York is brought from sanctuary. These two young princes are persuaded to stay in the Tower. Gloucester’s plot to take the throne is gathering support. The Queen’s brother and one of her sons are to be executed at Pomfret, and the Lord Chamberlain and nobles travel to London. Gloucester and Buckingham, one of his supporters, move for the Lord Chamberlain’s summary execution, which was already intended before he was even accused of any crime.

Buckingham urges Gloucester to accept an invitation to become king, which Richard at first pretends to refuse, before accepting.

Paul Delaroche’s Edward V, Child King of England, and Richard, the Duke of York, his Younger Brother (the Children of Edward) from 1830 shows the two boys huddled together on a bed. Edward is staring wistfully into the distance, his head cocked on one side, knowing too well the fate that awaits them both. His younger brother has an illustrated book open on Edward’s thigh, but is looking anxiously, his brow knitted, to the left, as if he can hear someone approaching and their fate drawing close. At the foot of the bed is a small dog, also looking into the dark beyond.

The Queen is refused access to the two young princes in the Tower. She sends her remaining son overseas for his safety, and Lady Anne Neville laments her future as Queen to Gloucester, who is soon to be crowned King Richard.

With the new King Richard on his throne, Buckingham at first refuses to agree to the young princes being killed, then relents to the King, who refuses to give him the earldom of Hereford as promised. Buckingham flees to Wales, as Richard hires an assassin to kill the princes. Nobles start a revolt against the King, who tries wooing Elizabeth of York to prevent his rival Richmond from marrying her.

The remaining women of the court curse the King, who tries to force the Queen to woo Elizabeth on his behalf. Richard then hears of Richmond’s arrival at Milford Haven, and growing revolt among the nobles. Buckingham is captured and executed as Richmond and his army march towards Leicester.

The King sets his tent in Bosworth Field, and he and Richmond prepare to do battle there the following day.

In his dreams that night, Richard is visited by the ghosts of those he has had murdered: King Henry VI, Prince Edward, Clarence, Elizabeth’s brother and son, the two young princes in the Tower, Lady Anne, Buckingham, and others. They each curse him and wish victory to Richmond. The King wakes with a start in the morning, realising that he is about to die.

King Richard rallies his soldiers with a speech, and battle is joined.  King Richard’s horse is killed, but he continues fighting until Richmond takes him on alone, defeats and kills Richard. Richmond is handed the crown and declares an amnesty to reunite England, which he seals by marrying Elizabeth, so uniting the warring houses of Lancaster and York.

William Hogarth’s portrait of David Garrick as Richard III from about 1745 shows him waking with a start following his dream. Garrick (1717-1779) was the leading British actor and theatrical manager of the eighteenth century, and first played the role of Richard III in 1741.

William Hamilton’s painting of John Philip Kemble as Richard III from about 1787 also shows the King’s moment of waking. Kemble (1757-1823) was a leading actor of the day, and became manager of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London, the following year.

That same year, the leading Danish painter of the day, Nicolai Abildgaard, painted this dramatic portrait of Richard III (1787) waking from his nightmare.

Nathaniel Dance-Holland’s portrait of David Garrick (1717–1779) as Richard III from 1771 shows him fighting at Bosworth Field. By this late stage in his career, Garrick was still playing some major roles while devoting most of his time to managing the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Garrick_as_Richard_III

https://eclecticlight.co/2023/01/16/paintings-of-william-shakespeares-plays-31-king-richard-iii/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_III_(play)

Condition Report:

This is a fine quality antique English Georgian oil painting of King Richard III, played by David Garrick in William Hogarth’s painting, based on William Shakespeare’s King Richard III theatrical play, painted on board, circa 1800 – 1830, in excellent original condition.  The varnished oil on board is in excellent condition given its age.  The colours are rich and strong.  Some crazing / cracking visible to the oils, but the board is firm – this is to be expected from an oil on board painting of this age.  The picture is painted on board and sits in its original gilt moulded slip and mahogany frame, which is also in good original condition.  Nominal old age marks to the leading edges of the frame, but nothing significant, considering the age of the item.  The back of the picture is in good original condition.  This King Richard III oil painting is ready to hang.

Dimensions:

Frame Height = 65cm / 25⅝” / 2ft 1⅝”
Frame Width = 54cm / 21¼” / 1ft 9¼”
Frame Depth = 5.5cm / 2⅛”
Picture Height = 51.3cm / 20¼” / 1ft 8¼”
Picture Width = 40.3cm / 15⅞” / 1ft 3”

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