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G0748
Paintings: G0748
Title
Sarah Siddons, called
Technique
Oil on canvas
Subject
Character
Lady Macbeth : Macbeth
Artist
Dimensions
Height: 229.9cm
Width: 138.5cm
Width: 138.5cm
Provenance
Commissioned by John Boydell; Shakespeare Lottery 1804; William Tassie; Christie's 20 May 1805; Sir Squire Bancroft, by whom presented to the Garrick Club, 1899
Other number
RW/CKA 434
Gift 262
Gift 262
Exhibition history
1800-5 London, "Shakspeare Gallery"
Related works
Priv. Coll., Boston 1968 watercolour study
Engraving history
James Parker for Boydell's “Shakespeare Gallery” pub. John and Josiah Boydell 4 June 1800, line
Literature
Winifred H. Friedman “Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery” (New (York 1976); Fitzgerald pp 193-94
Lady Macbeth is shown in a room in Macbeth's castle at Inverness, having just read her letter from Macbeth (compare with G0742). She strikes a heroic attitude of determination, with clenched right fist, and the letter clutched in her left hand. She wears blue sandals, a brown sleeveless dress under a white overskirt with a fringe below the knee, a gold belt, and a long dark brown cloak.
Westall probably never intended this painting to be a portrait of Sarah Siddons, but the inevitable comparison was made the moment the picture was exhibited. It is, however, quite clear that Siddons's performance of Lady Macbeth inspired the picture.
Westall probably never intended this painting to be a portrait of Sarah Siddons, but the inevitable comparison was made the moment the picture was exhibited. It is, however, quite clear that Siddons's performance of Lady Macbeth inspired the picture.
