Artwork
Le Malade Imaginaire
Le Malade Imaginaire is an oil painting by Charles Robert Leslie. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Charles Robert Leslie’s oil painting Le Malade Imaginaire, executed in 1843, is part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work presents an interior scene populated by five figures dressed in historical costume, arranged around a table and a partially open doorway.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a seated gentleman in a yellow robe and white turban, attended by a woman in a blue dress and three other men, one of whom in black coat and hat is opening the door. The title suggests a reference to Molière’s play, hinting that the gathering may be a staged tableau of a hypochondriac’s household.
Technique & Style
Leslie employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, creating a strong contrast between illuminated areas and deep shadows that focus attention on the central seated figure. The brushwork is smooth, and the rendering of fabrics and interior details reflects a careful, academic approach typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century British painting.
History & Provenance
Created in 1843, Le Malade Imaginaire entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. No further changes of ownership are recorded in the available documentation.
Artist & collection
