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Scene from <i>Macbeth</i> by William Shakespeare

Alfred W. Elmore

1853

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

British Romanticism Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Scene from <i>Macbeth</i> by William Shakespeare is a 1853 paint by Alfred W. Elmore, a British Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Alfred W. Elmore
When & what style?: 1853 · British Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows the banquet scene from *Macbeth*. Lady Macbeth sits pale at a long table while a ghostly dagger floats above the empty seat. The guests stare in shock at nothing. It’s based on a real 1853 stage production with actor Charles Kean. The painting captures the moment Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this work.

The story of this work

Overview

The painting depicts the banquet scene from Shakespeare's *Macbeth* (Act III, scene iv) as staged in Charles Kean's 1853 production. Executed in oil, it shows a castle hall illuminated by torches framing two central pillars that support an arched ceiling, with tables and figures arranged around a raised dais. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth stand beside the left pillar, where Macbeth gestures toward the spectral figure of Banquo appearing on the dais. The work is signed by the artist.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Alfred W. Elmore

Alfred W. Elmore loved painting scenes where everyday life felt like a play. He once showed two women on a balcony wrapped in green and red curtains, their ordinary moment framed by medieval buildings and a bright sky.…

See the richer artist page