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Ferdinand, Ariel, Prospero and Miranda (from William Shakespeare's 'The Tempest')

Thomas Stothard

1795

oil

panel

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Neoclassicism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Ferdinand, Ariel, Prospero and Miranda (from William Shakespeare's 'The Tempest') is a 1795 oil by Thomas Stothard, a Neoclassicism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Thomas Stothard
When & what style?: 1795 · Neoclassicism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting depicts a scene from William Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'. In the foreground, four figures are shown: a man in a red tunic and hat, a man in a black robe, and a couple embracing. The couple is dressed in yellow and green, while the man in black has a long white beard. A woman in a pink dress is shown playing a harp in the background, with a cherub flying above her. The painting features a mix of warm and cool colors, with the red and yellow tones standing out against the darker background. The overall mood of the painting is one of serenity and tranquility. The painting's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark, adds depth and dimension to the scene. This technique is characteristic of the artist's style, and is also seen in other works by Thomas Stothard.