Artwork
Thomas More, Lord High Chancellor of England
Thomas More, Lord High Chancellor of England is an oil painting by Claudius Jacquand. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
About this work
Overview
Claudius Jacquand's 1828 oil painting depicts a poignant scene of Thomas More, the English humanist and former Lord High Chancellor, during his imprisonment in the Tower of London.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a dramatic moment where More's daughter kneels at his feet, urging him to accept the Act of Supremacy to avoid execution, while his wife, Alice, stands beside him, her red attire symbolically contrasting with the impending martyrdom.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work showcases meticulous detail. Compositionally, it features a central group against a somber, stone-walled background with an arched ceiling, with a secondary figure observing from the shadows, enhancing the emotional depth.
History & Provenance
Soon after its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, where it remains. Notably, it was showcased in the 2014 exhibition 'L'invention du Passé. Histoires de cœur et d'épée 1802-1850'.
Artist & collection
Artist
Claude Jacquand, known as Claudius Jacquand (French pronunciation: ; 11 December 1803, Lyon – 2 April 1878, Paris) was a French painter of historical tableaus, genre scenes and religious subjects.
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