Artwork
Oliver Cromwell the Night Before His Death
Oliver Cromwell the Night Before His Death is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist David Wilkie Wynfield. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting, 'Oliver Cromwell the Night Before His Death', depicts the lord protector in a contemplative pose. Created by David Wilkie Wynfield, it was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art in 1867.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Oliver Cromwell sitting alone in a dimly lit room, lost in thought. The work is based on a passage from Thomas Carlyle's writings, capturing a solemn moment from history.
Technique & Style
Wynfield's use of soft, somewhat blurry colors creates a subdued atmosphere. The painting is characteristic of the 'historical genre' style, popular among the St John's Wood Clique, a group of artists to which Wynfield belonged.
History & Provenance
The painting was bequeathed to the V&A by John Forster in 1876, as part of a large collection of artworks and historical materials.
Context
Wynfield was part of a group of artists known as the St John's Wood Clique, who practiced their skills by recreating historical scenes, often using models dressed in period costume.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Wilkie Wynfield was a British painter and photographer who gained recognition for his historical genre paintings and his pioneering use of shallow-focus portrait photography.
