‘Katherine and Petruchio’ by Charles Robert Leslie RA (1774-1859). The painting is signed by the artist and presented in a bespoke gold metal leaf frame.

For many years the painting was believed to portray Queen Elizabeth I receiving news of her assent to the throne of England, but can now be correctly identified as depicting Act II, scene I of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, and more precisely the 1754 reworking of the play by David Garrick. Throughout Georgian and Victorian Britain, it was Garrick’s version that was most often performed, and the one that the artist would most likely have seen.

“The painting represents Act II of David Garrick's ‘Catharine and Petruchio’ and offers a genuine insight into 18/19th century interpretations of Shakespeare's play.”

Professor Rosalind King, Oxford University

Academy Fine Paintings would like to thank Professor Rosalind King and Dr Patrick Gray for their invaluable expertise in the identification of the subject in this painting. Professor King is Professor Emeritus at the University of Southampton, the Visiting Plumer Fellow at St Anne’s, University of Oxford, and has served on the academic committee of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London and on the Board of Directors of the English Shakespeare Company.

Dr Gray studied at Oxford, Yale, and the Sorbonne in Paris before joining Durham University as Associate Professor of English Studies.

We only offer original antique artwork for sale in the finest condition it can be for its age, having been professionally cleaned, conserved, and re-varnished. Clients should also note that tracked and signed for international tariff-free shipping is always complimentary.

Charles Robert Leslie was one of the most eminent and successful artists of 19th century Britain. The close friend and biographer of John Constable, C.R. Leslie exhibited 76 paintings at Royal Academy between 1813 and 1858 and was elected at full Royal Academician in 1826.

“There is no man now living who seems to me to come close at all near Mr Leslie, his work being in places equal to Hogarth for decision, and here and there a little lighter and more graceful”.

John Ruskin

Dimensions: (framed) 165cm x 135cm (65” x 53”)

Dimensions: (canvas only) 142cm x 112cm (56” x 44”)

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Provenance: Private collection.

Presentation: Superb quality gold metal leaf frame. All of the new frames we commission are especially made for us to order by one of the UK’s top period frame makers.

Condition: Excellent. Newly professionally cleaned and re-varnished. Ready to hang.