Autolycus (painting)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Autolycus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Charles Robert Leslie |
| Year | 1836 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, genre painting |
| Dimensions | 53.3 cm × 73.6 cm (21.0 in × 29.0 in) |
| Location | Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Autolycus is an oil painting by the Anglo-American artist Charles Robert Leslie, from 1836. It is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, in London.[1][2]
It depicts the character of Autolycus the peddler from William Shakespeare's 1623 play A Winter's Tale. A self-described "snapper up of unconsidered trifles", Autolycus is shown hawking his wares including cheap goods and printed ballads to the country folk. Autolycus is surrounded by several people, four women and one man, who seem interested by his sales. Leslie based the sky and tree on sketches supplied by his friend, the celebrated landscape painter John Constable.[3]
Illustrations of famous literary scenes and characters were popular during the era and Leslie produced a number.
