A very unique and colorful oil on canvas painting, laid to masonite board is this death scene with a nobleman or king, apparently poisoned, while a kneeling knight ponders over him, leaning on the shaft of his mace. The nobleman is dressed in white, green and red, and the knight in blackened armor and helmet with gold tunic. A young boy kneels behind the knight, while two other men stand adjacent taking in the scene. There is a curule form chair and a large round table with a book and red ribbon and a candle or light. A plate and small jug lie on the floor not far from the man’s outstretched hand. Perhaps the noble is a victim of poisoning. The interior is most certainly from within a castle with its large pillars and spired ceiling. A small arched window on the right side brings light into the scene. The painting is signed in the lower right with initials and “Drummond” along with the date of 1859. This is most likely the British artist, James Drummond (1816-1877). The scene may be from a Shakespeare’s Hamlet, when Old Hamlet, the King of Denmark is poisoned by his brother, Claudius.

The painting image measures 21 3/8” x 28 1/4” and the overall size including the frame measures 28 1/4” x 35 3/8”. The painting is in overall good condition with some scattered losses and varnish inconsistencies. The canvas is laid to or glued to a piece of Masonite board. There are minor scattered losses to the frame, but overall displays well.

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