Who painted The Lost Receipt?

The Lost Receipt was painted by David Wilkie in 1824.

Where can I see The Lost Receipt?

The Lost Receipt is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Lost Receipt?

The Lost Receipt is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Lost Receipt

David Wilkie , 1824

The Lost Receipt is a print by the Romanticist artist David Wilkie. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Lost Receipt, a print executed in 1824 by Scottish artist David Wilkie, depicts a cramped interior where five figures are gathered around a table. A man in a wig holds a rolled document near the doorway, while a woman illuminates the scene with a lamp. A dog lies on the floor, and the dim lighting casts elongated shadows across the plain walls.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a slice of domestic routine rather than a grand narrative, focusing on ordinary individuals engaged in a moment of quiet activity. The presence of the rolled paper suggests a lost receipt or forgotten transaction, inviting viewers to contemplate the everyday concerns and interpersonal dynamics that occupy private spaces.

Technique & Style

Wilkie employs loose, sketch‑like lines that convey immediacy, as if the scene were captured in a rapid study. The print’s tonal contrasts emphasize the subdued illumination, while the informal rendering of figures and objects underscores the artist’s interest in portraying life’s unembellished moments.

History & Provenance

Created during Wilkie’s London period, The Lost Receipt entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. The work reflects the artist’s broader output, which included genre scenes, historical subjects, portraits, and images inspired by his travels throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Context

Wilkie held the prestigious position of Principal Painter in Ordinary to King William IV and later to Queen Victoria, a role that linked him to official portraiture while he continued to explore genre subjects. The print aligns with early‑19th‑century Romantic interests in everyday life, using a modest domestic episode to suggest larger social or emotional themes.