Who painted Cordelia's Portion?

Cordelia's Portion was painted by Ford Madox Brown in 1871.

Where can I see Cordelia's Portion?

Cordelia's Portion is held by Fitzwilliam Museum.

What movement is Cordelia's Portion?

Cordelia's Portion is associated with Pre-Raphaelite.

Artwork

Cordelia's Portion

Ford Madox Brown , 1871

Cordelia's Portion is an oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Ford Madox Brown. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

About this work

Overview

Cordelia's Portion is a painting executed in oil paint by Ford Madox Brown in 1871. It is a representative work of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, characterized by its detailed and morally instructive approach.

Subject & Meaning

The painting illustrates a scene from Shakespeare's King Lear, specifically the moment when Cordelia, one of Lear's daughters, is disinherited. The composition centers around King Lear, depicted with a long white beard, and Cordelia, shown standing beside him in a green dress.

Technique & Style

The work is rendered in a graphic style reminiscent of Hogarth, with a predominantly brown and yellow color palette punctuated by touches of red and green. The figures are attired in old-fashioned clothing, underscoring the painting's historical theme.

Context

As a Pre-Raphaelite work, Cordelia's Portion reflects the movement's emphasis on moralizing and detailed representation. The painting's exploration of a Shakespearean theme aligns with Brown's broader artistic interests in historical and literary subjects.

Cordelia Parting from her Sisters, Ford Madox Brown

Artist & collection

Artist

Ford Madox Brown

Ford Madox Brown (16 April 1821 – 6 October 1893) was a British painter of moral and historical subjects, notable for his distinctively graphic and often Hogarthian version of the Pre-Raphaelite style.