Not currently on display at the V&A

Lear and Cordelia in Chains

Embroidered Picture
ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Large silk picture of cream silk taffeta covered in silk embroidery. The sky and faces and hands of the figures depicted are hand painted in watercolour. The subject is taken from Shakespeare's "King Lear", depicting Lear and Cordelia in chains being brought before Edmund and his captain & soldiers (Act 5, scene III). The oval picture is framed within a large gilt frame, with ornamental corners, and a smooth plane of gilt, with an oval cut-out, to expose the embroidery.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLear and Cordelia in Chains
Materials and techniques
Silk taffeta, silk embroidery, watercolour painting, gilt frame
Brief description
Embroidered picture of silk taffeta, 'Lear and Cordelia in Chains', England, ca. 1800
Physical description
Large silk picture of cream silk taffeta covered in silk embroidery. The sky and faces and hands of the figures depicted are hand painted in watercolour. The subject is taken from Shakespeare's "King Lear", depicting Lear and Cordelia in chains being brought before Edmund and his captain & soldiers (Act 5, scene III). The oval picture is framed within a large gilt frame, with ornamental corners, and a smooth plane of gilt, with an oval cut-out, to expose the embroidery.
Dimensions
  • Oval panel length: 12.25in
  • Oval panel length: 31cm
  • Oval panel width: 15.125in
  • Oval panel width: 38.5cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss E. B. Lawn
Literary referenceBeginning of King Lear, Act V, Scene III, by William Shakespeare
Collection
Accession number
T.449-1977

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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