Richard Westall, R.A. (Reepham 1765-1836 London)
All sold and unsold lots marked with a filled squa… Read more
Richard Westall, R.A. (Reepham 1765-1836 London)

Henry IV, Part I, Act III, Scene I

Details
Richard Westall, R.A. (Reepham 1765-1836 London)
Henry IV, Part I, Act III, Scene I
oil on canvas
100 x 72 ¾ in. (254 x 184.8 cm.)
Provenance
Commissioned by Alderman John Boydell.
The Shakespeare Gallery Sale; Christie's, 17 May 1805, lot 48 (39gns. to the following)
John Green; his sale, Christie's, London, 26 April 1830 [3rd day], lot 86 (71gns. to Bone for the following)
Joseph Neeld, MP, and by descent to,
Captain L.W. Neald, Grittleton House, Gloucestershire, 16 November 1962, lot 91 (15gns. to the following)
Brian Leary; his sale, Christie's, 12 July 1989, lot 99 (£60,500).
Literature
J. Pye, Patronage of British Art, London, 1845, p. 281.
W.M. Merchant, Shakespeare and the Artist, London, 1959, p. 240.
W. Pape and F. Burwick (ed.), The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, Bottrop, 1996, p. 251.
Exhibited
London, Shakespeare Gallery, c.1795.
Engraved
J.P. Simon for the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, 1795.
Special notice
All sold and unsold lots marked with a filled square in the catalogue that are not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the day of the sale, and all sold and unsold lots not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the fifth Friday following the sale, will be removed to the warehouse of ‘Cadogan Tate’. Please note that there will be no charge to purchasers who collect their lots within two weeks of this sale.

Lot Essay

The main subject of Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I is the rebellion against King Henry by the discontent Percy family, led by Sir Henry Percy, known as Hotspur. The Percys are joined in their insurrection by Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, and the Welshman Owen Glendower.
The present lot depicts the meeting of Hotspur, his uncle Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, Mortimer and Glendower at the Archdeacon of Bangor’s home in Wales. The rebels study a map of the kingdom, which they plan to divide between them after they overthrow King Henry. Hotspur is to get the northern part of England, Mortimer the southeast and Glendower the western part of England and Wales. Hotspur complains about his share of the land and threatens to divert the course of the River Trent, causing a disagreement with Glendower.
The sprawling, confident figure of Hotspur, in dispute with Glendower, dominates the scene. Glendower stands behind, gesturing with one hand while reaching for the hilt of his sword with the other. The quarrel is ended by Glendower agreeing to Hotspur’s request.

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