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Lot Essay
The action in the present watercolour depicts Act III, scene I of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. At the request of the Queen, Ophelia returns the gifts given to her by Hamlet, 'My lord, I have rememberances of yours/That I have longed long to redeliver./I pray you, now receive them.'
Francis Philip Stephanoff, the younger brother of James Stephanoff, O.W.S., (circa 1786-1874), painted in a similar style and also chose similar subject matter to that of his brother, namely historical subjects with an emphasis on costume and ceremonial detail.
Similar Shakespearean subjects, by Stephanoff, taken from Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Merry Wives of Windsor were sold at Christie's London, the first 24 July 1984, lot 19, and the second, 10 July 1984, lot 104.
Francis Philip Stephanoff, the younger brother of James Stephanoff, O.W.S., (circa 1786-1874), painted in a similar style and also chose similar subject matter to that of his brother, namely historical subjects with an emphasis on costume and ceremonial detail.
Similar Shakespearean subjects, by Stephanoff, taken from Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Merry Wives of Windsor were sold at Christie's London, the first 24 July 1984, lot 19, and the second, 10 July 1984, lot 104.