Artwork

Prince John and Isaac the Jew at the Passage of Arms at Ashby, in the county of Leicester.

Prince John and Isaac the Jew at the Passage of Arms at Ashby, in the county of Leicester. is a watercolor work on paper by Atkinson. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

John Augustus Atkinson’s 1850 watercolour captures a moment from Sir Walter Scott’s novel *Ivanhoe*. The composition centers on Prince John and Isaac the Jew as they ride through the Passage of Arms in Ashby, Leicestershire. The scene is populated by a bustling crowd in period dress, a building with a balcony, and a lively street atmosphere rendered in a bright yet slightly muted palette.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualises a key episode in *Ivanhoe* where the rival claimants to the English throne intersect with the town’s Jewish community. By placing Prince John and Isaac side by side, Atkinson highlights the tension between political power and minority presence in medieval England, echoing the novel’s themes of loyalty, prejudice, and social upheaval.

Technique & Style

Atkinson’s handling balances precise observation with a fluid, almost impressionistic approach to the bustling street scene.

Executed in watercolour, the painting combines detailed rendering of the riders’ costumes, saddles, and armor with looser, sketch‑like brushwork for the surrounding crowd and architecture. The colour scheme is vivid but softened by a subtle fading, suggesting sunlight filtered through fabric. Atkinson’s handling balances precise observation with a fluid, almost impressionistic approach to the bustling street scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1850, the piece reflects the Victorian fascination with historical literature and national identity. While specific ownership records are limited, the watercolour has been cited in catalogues of Atkinson’s oeuvre and remains a documented example of mid‑nineteenth‑century British illustration of literary subjects.