A Scene in Twelfth Night, Act 3

Francis Wheatley 1747 - 1801

Summary

Scene depicting the duel from Twelfth Night, Act 3, scene 4, as played by contemporary 18th century actors. It takes place in a woodland landscape setting with a massive oak tree in the centre foreground dividing the characters into pairs, from left to right; Fabian (Francis Waldron) and Viola (Miss Elizabeth Younge), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (James W Dodd) and Sir Toby Belch (James Dance, also known as Love). Sir Andrew Aguecheek draws his sword against Viola, egged on by Belch behind him, whilst Viola moves back from the gesture toward her companion Fabian.

Display Label

A Scene in Twelfth Night, Act 3 1771-2 Francis Wheatley 1747-1801 Oil on canvas In this scene from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Fabian (on the extreme left) and Sir Toby Belch (on the extreme right) persuade Cesario (left) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (right) to fight a duel. They are reluctant; Cesario because he/she is really Viola, a woman in disguise, and Aguecheek because he is a coward. The painting celebrates a revival of the play at Drury Lane Theatre, London. The most famous actor here is James William Dodd, as Aguecheek, whose ‘white calf-like stupid face’ was especially good for portraying comic vacancy. Francis Wheatley was renowned for his figure painting, and it is the body language here which makes the painting amusing. An added touch of humour is the contrast between the lurid shiny costumes and the ripped painted stage backdrop, which reveals brickwork at the top right. Purchased 1953.4