Who painted Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe'?

Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe' was painted by William Maw Egley in 1850.

Where can I see Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe'?

Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe' is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe'?

Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe' is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe'

William Maw Egley , 1850

Scene from Molière's 'Le Tartuffe' is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist William Maw Egley. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

William Maw Egley’s mid‑nineteenth‑century canvas presents a moment taken from Molière’s comedy *Le Tartuffe*. Executed in a realist manner typical of Victorian genre painting, the work shows four figures arranged around a table within an interior setting, their varied dress and the modest furnishings contributing to a narrative tableau.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a theatrical episode from the French play, emphasizing the social contrasts that drive the drama. A man in formal black robes and a white wig occupies the left, while two women in lighter, more informal attire sit nearby, their differing costumes suggesting underlying tension and the play’s themes of hypocrisy and deception.

Technique & Style

Egley employs a clear, controlled palette and careful modeling of light to delineate the figures and objects, a practice reminiscent of his mentor William Powell Frith. Subtle chiaroscuro creates depth, particularly around the table’s white cloth and the surrounding furnishings, while the crisp rendering of clothing details reflects the artist’s training in miniature painting.

History & Provenance

Born to the miniaturist William Egley, the artist received early instruction from his father before joining the circle known as The Clique, which favored literary subjects. The painting, dated circa 1850, entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of Victorian genre works.