This is a fine large mid-19th century oil on canvas depicting ‘Rosalind and Celia’ in the Forest of Arden from Act 3, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ by the famous English Victorian artist Henry Nelson O’Neil ARA (1817-1880). The painting is signed by the artist and dated 1856. It was in this year that the painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London where O’Neil exhibited a grand total 94 paintings between 1838 and 1879.

As with all of the original antique oil paintings we sell it is offered in the very finest condition it can be for its age having just been professionally cleaned, restored and re-varnished.

Henry O’Neil was a founder member of The Clique, one of the most important artist groups of the 19th century, alongside Richard Dadd, William Powell Frith, John Phillip, Edward Matthew Ward, Augustus Egg, and Alfred Elmore.

In the 1850’s O’Neil was a famously virulent critics of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood though ironically his own luminous technique and fastidious attention to detail compares to anything produced by Millais, Rosetti, and Holman Hunt.

Henry Nelson O’Neil also exhibited 34 painting at the British Institution and 14 with the Royal Society of British Artists.

Dimensions: (framed) 109cm x 88cm (43” x 34¾”)
Dimensions: (canvas only) 92cm x 71cm (36¼” x 28”)
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Provenance: Private UK collection.
Presentation: Bespoke Baroque style swept frame. All of the new frames we commission are especially made for us to order by one of the UK’s finest period frame makers.
Condition: Excellent. Newly professionally cleaned, restored and re-varnished. Ready to hang.