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Lot Essay
The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy with a quote from Edward Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: 'His faithless spouse was anxious for his health and repose: the gates of the palace were shut, the arms removed, the attendants dismissed, and Rosamund, after lulling him to rest by her tender caresses, unbolted the chamber door, and urged the reluctant conspirators to the instant execution of the deed. On the first alarm, the warrior started from his couch: his sword, which he attempted to draw, had been fastened to the scabbard by the hand of Rosamond, and a small stool, his only weapon, could not protect him from the spears of the assassins' (London, 1830, Chapter XLV, p. 784).
Specialising in historical subjects and genre, Charles Landseer was the elder brother of the much better-known Edwin. He is particularly celebrated for his meticulous attention to detail, evident in this painting. The Athenaeum critic commented that the details of this painting 'are very well authenticated' adding that 'Brighter armour, pinker dress, and more carefully-studied footstools have seldom been painted, and the crossed garters, vandykes, and billet mouldings are all taken from the first authorities.'
Specialising in historical subjects and genre, Charles Landseer was the elder brother of the much better-known Edwin. He is particularly celebrated for his meticulous attention to detail, evident in this painting. The Athenaeum critic commented that the details of this painting 'are very well authenticated' adding that 'Brighter armour, pinker dress, and more carefully-studied footstools have seldom been painted, and the crossed garters, vandykes, and billet mouldings are all taken from the first authorities.'