Artwork
Scene from Molière's 'Le Malade Imaginaire'
Scene from Molière's 'Le Malade Imaginaire' is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist William Maw Egley. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
William Maw Egley, a Victorian‑era English painter born in 1826, completed the work titled Scene from Molière’s Le Malade Imaginaire in 1857. The canvas is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection and belongs to a series of light‑hearted genre scenes that Egley produced throughout his career.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates a moment from Molière’s comedy Le Malade Imaginaire. An ill‑treated gentleman reclines on a richly appointed bed while two women—one in a dark robe, the other in white—stand nearby, suggesting the play’s themes of hypochondria and domestic manipulation.
Technique & Style
Executed in a realist manner, Egley employs muted earth tones and chiaroscuro to model the figures and furnishings, creating depth and a subtle sense of drama. The handling reflects the influence of his collaborations with William Powell Frith and the broader Clique aesthetic.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains on display. Egley’s work was widely circulated in the mid‑nineteenth century as part of his series of humorous domestic and urban scenes.
Context
Egley’s choice of a theatrical subject aligns with his frequent depiction of literary themes, a common practice among Victorian genre painters who sought to bring familiar narratives into everyday visual culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Maw Egley (1826 in London – 20 February 1916) was an English artist of the Victorian era.
