Dec 27, 2025
A Scene in Twelfth Night, Act 3
Artist: Francis Wheatley (English, (1747-1801)
Date: 1771-1772
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, England
Description
Scene depicting the duel from Twelfth Night, Act 3, scene 4, as played by contemporary 18th century actors. It takes place in a woodland landscape setting with a massive oak tree in the centre foreground dividing the characters into pairs, from left to right; Fabian (Francis Waldron) and Viola (Miss Elizabeth Younge), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (James W Dodd) and Sir Toby Belch (James Dance, also known as Love). Sir Andrew Aguecheek draws his sword against Viola, egged on by Belch behind him, whilst Viola moves back from the gesture toward her companion Fabian.
#literary painting#genre painting#artwork#the twelve night#play by william shakespeare#actors#francois waldron#miss elizabeth younge#james w dodd#james dance#men#threatre#wooden landscape#costume#headdress#english literature#narrative art#cloak#oak tree#painting#oil on canvas#fine art#oil painting#english culture#english art#francis wheatley#english painter#european art#18th century painting#manchester art gallery