Artwork
Titania, Puck and the Changeling, from Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Titania, Puck and the Changeling, from Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is an oil painting by George Romney. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting by George Romney, created in 1797, illustrates a scene from Shakespeare's *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, featuring Titania, Puck, and the Changeling within a landscape setting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Titania, lying in a red dress, gazing at the Changeling, a baby dressed in white, while Puck, a winged, mischievous boy, interacts with the infant, capturing a moment of enchantment and intrigue from the play.
Technique & Style
Romney employs a contrast of colors, with Titania's vibrant red dress against subdued landscape hues, and utilizes oil paint to render the figures and setting with detail and depth, characteristic of his portraiture skills adapted to a literary scene.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1797, the painting is now part of the National Gallery of Ireland's collection, reflecting Romney's versatility beyond his renowned portraits of high society.
Context
While primarily known for fashionable portraits, this work demonstrates Romney's engagement with Shakespearean themes, aligning with 18th-century artistic interests in literary illustrations.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Romney (26 December 1734 – 15 November 1802) was an English painter. He was the most fashionable artist of his day, painting many leading society figures – including his artistic muse, Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson.
Self-Portrait
Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Emily Bertie Pott (died 1782)
Mrs. Bryan Cooke (Frances Puleston, 1765–1818)
Mrs. Charles Frederick (Martha Rigden, died 1794)
Lady Elizabeth Hamilton (1753–1797), Countess of Derby
Portrait of a Man
Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle (1726–1816)
Portrait of Two Girls (Misses Cumberland)
