Unframed Oil on board (19 x 24 inches, unframed)
The Merry Wives of Windsor features a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, Falstaff. The incredibly experienced French actor, Bernard Lefebvre, posed for Falstaff. The character is larger than life and is a knight of the realm with an insatiable appetite for life. In this painting we see him at the end of the play, having been duped by the two married women (Mistress Ford and Mistress Page) whom he has attempted to seduce. His aim was to relieve them of the burden of their wealth! To this end, he has sent them an identical love letter, but the two on-looking wives have compared notes and have discovered his plans. They have lured him into a trap. Consequently, Falstaff has dressed as Herne the Hunter (a popular mythical being of the time) and has visited Windsor Forest for a clandestine meeting. He is about to be exposed and humiliated before all! An on-looking ‘Great Tit’ is Falstaff’s doppelgänger. Around his neck is a medallion picturing Queen Elizabeth; this is a nod-and-a-wink to his royal popularity. Someone loves him at least!
Original painting: £650 use Contact Us
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Prints will be available soon
Ref: Merry Wives of Windsor
Location: UK
Artist: Iain Will