G. W. SMETHAM-JONES (Exhibited 1887-1893)
Portia - The Quality of Mercy




Watercolour and bodycolour, signed and dated 1893
Image size is 37" x 23"

Exhibited - The Institute of Painters in Watercolours, London in 1893

Price on application

For comparison, see Millais' version of Portia at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, painted in 1886 www.metmuseum.org

George William Smetham-Jones studied in London and was greatly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rosetti and by James Smetham (1821-1889). Records show that he lived and worked in London, before moving to Stroud in Gloucestershire and then Coniston. He followed John Ruskin, Burne-Jones and James Smetham to the shores of Lake Coniston for inspiration. His paintings were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, the Royal Society of Artists in Birmingham, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, and at the Institute of Painters in Watercolours in London. The above painting was inspired from Shakespeare's play - The Merchant Of Venice.

Until 26th September 2011, you can see the latest production of The Merchant of Venice, starring Patrick Stewart as Shylock at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon www.rsc.org.uk