Alma Murray as Beatrice Cenci in 'The Cenci' by Percy Bysshe Shelley
1887
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1887
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Alma Murray as Beatrice Cenci in 'The Cenci' by Percy Bysshe Shelley is a 1887 paint by Hal Mansfield Murray, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
A woman in a long white dress stands with her arm raised, holding a knife high. Her hair is loose, and she looks upward, almost like she’s lost in thought. The background is a soft, blurry gray, keeping all the focus on her. Notice how the light hits her face and dress, making parts glow while others fade into shadow. This was a common trick in paintings from that time. Want to see more? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
A full-length portrait depicts a woman in white attire holding a dagger in her right hand. The painting is executed on an unframed canvas. The frame and glass are stored at Blythe House, specifically at F21a Pull-out Rack 8.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Hal Mansfield Murray’s wife, Alma, posed for him in a role she never actually played onstage: Beatrice Cenci in Shelley’s tragic play.
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