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Shylock, Salanio and Salarino

Unknown

1864

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Shylock, Salanio and Salarino is a 1864 watercolor by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1864 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

Three men stand outside a building with columns. The one on the left wears a dark coat and hat, hands tucked into his sleeves. The middle man has a bright red hat and a fur-lined cloak, pointing at something with his right hand. The man on the right, with a long white beard and staff, leans in, listening. Notice how the artist used soft light and shadow to show the textures of their clothes—especially the fur and fabric folds. The background looks like a busy street with other people, but the focus stays on these three. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more paintings like this up close.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour from 1864 depicts three figures in Venice—Shylock, Salanio, and Salarino—from Shakespeare’s *The Merchant of Venice*, Act 3, Scene 1. The artist signed and dated the work on the left side of a building, also noting the play’s title and the scene reference.

Read the full account in the museum source.