Who painted A locksmith and his wife?

A locksmith and his wife was painted by Unknown in 1770.

Where can I see A locksmith and his wife?

A locksmith and his wife is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A locksmith and his wife?

A locksmith and his wife is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

A locksmith and his wife

Unknown , 1770

A locksmith and his wife is a paint painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This work is one of a series of thirty‑six small paintings that record the various castes and occupations of South India.

About this work

Overview

Each image portrays a male figure and his spouse together with the implements of their trade, set against a dark green ground and framed by a red border.

This work is one of a series of thirty‑six small paintings that record the various castes and occupations of South India. Each image portrays a male figure and his spouse together with the implements of their trade, set against a dark green ground and framed by a red border. The series was compiled in an album bearing a 1799 watermark and a bookplate belonging to Joseph Whatley, whose Latin motto reads "Pelle Timorem."

Subject & Meaning

The picture depicts a locksmith and his wife, each holding the tools associated with metalworking and lock‑making. By presenting the couple side by side, the image emphasizes the familial transmission of skill and the social role of the caste within everyday life. The setting, though stylized, suggests a domestic interior where the craft is practiced.

Technique & Style

The composition employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures against the dark background. A tangled cloud motif runs across the top of the panel, while looped shadows extend from the feet, grounding the subjects. Variations in colour—yellow, deep blue, and green‑blue—indicate that at least three different artists contributed to the series, each with a distinct handling of line and detail.

History & Provenance

All thirty‑six panels were mounted together in an album identified by a watermark reading "J. Ruse 1799," suggesting an early nineteenth‑century origin. The album’s bookplate links it to Joseph Whatley, a collector whose personal motto, "Pelle Timorem," appears on the cover. The series likely served as a visual catalogue of South Indian social groups for European audiences interested in ethnographic illustration.