Bassanio winning the heart of Portia, The Merchant of Venice

Details

Antonio Ermolao Paoletti (Italian, 1834-1912)
Bassanio winning the heart of Portia, The Merchant of Venice
signed 'A. Ermolao Paoletti' (lower right)
oil on canvas
53 x 74¾ in. (105.3 x 190 cm.)

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

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Lot Essay

This picture depicts Act III, Scene II of The Merchant of Venice. The scene is set at Belmont. Portia's deceased father has set a puzzle for her potential suitors; They must correctly choose between caskets of gold, silver or lead. Reasoning that 'The world is still deceiv'd with ornament', Bassanio chooses the lead casket and to his joy, and hers, discovers Portia's portrait inside and with it her father's blessing.

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