Macbeth instructing the murderers employed to kill Banquo
1850
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1850
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
In the painting, a man sits on a throne, wearing a red robe and a crown. He holds a sword in his right hand and gestures with his left. To his left, three men stand, two of them holding swords. On the right side of the image, two men stand behind the seated figure, one wearing a red hooded cloak. The background is a dark, muted color, with a red curtain hanging behind the throne. The seated figure appears to be giving instructions to the men standing before him. The atmosphere is tense and foreboding, with the men's serious expressions and the presence of swords contributing to the sense of unease. This painting is reminiscent of the work of artists associated with the Realism movement.
