Unframed Oil on board (31.5 x 24 inches, unframed)
This painting depicts King Lear, played by Eliezier Mellul (a famous French film and stage actor) who can be seen with a sorrowful expression, whilst Cornelia’s pale ghost looks on sympathetically. In the distance we see his two other daughters, Goneril and Regan, walking off into the coming storm that symbolises their ultimate doom in the play’s finale. At this point they have the divided kingdom in their grasp as denoted by the crown, held in Regan’s hand. In contrast, Cordelia’s army has failed to regain the kingdom; Albany’s (Goneril’s husband) last minute attempt to stay the execution of Lear and Cordelia has partially failed; Cordelia is dead! Her ghost looks on Lear as he grieves. Is it self-pity that Lear feels, or remorse at his failure to appreciate the true worth and sincerity of Cordelia? The whole painting is set against a stormy baron land, which symbolises Lear’s self-expulsion from his Kingdom and his subsequent days in the wilderness. The actor who posed for this painting is a successful Parisian actor and friend, Eliezer Mellul (via the Theatre du Nord-Ouest), whom I met during my Paris Exhibition of some of these Shakespeare paintings in 2021-22.
Original painting: £850 use Contact Us
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Prints of this painting will be available soon
Ref: King Lear
Location: York UK
Artist: Iain Will