Falstaff at Herne’s Oak 1807

Robert Smirke created this oil on paper artwork, titled ‘Falstaff at Herne’s Oak,’ sometime between 1752 and 1845. Smirke's painting is built up with layers of translucent glazes and opaque highlights, techniques associated with the old masters. The narrative is from Shakespeare’s ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor.’ The fat knight Falstaff is surprised and frightened in the forest by supposed fairies. The dark palette and loose brushwork enhance the sense of drama and foreboding. Yet, if you look closely, you'll notice that the fairies, in the background, are very roughly painted, suggesting their unreality, as if these are simply players on a stage. The use of oil paint also allowed Smirke to convey the textures of the different elements in the scene, from the smooth skin of the women, to the rough bark of the Herne’s Oak. The context of this work is important: Smirke was an academically trained artist, focused on historical subjects rather than everyday life. His use of oil paint, along with his attention to narrative and dramatic effect, elevates this scene from simple illustration to something richer and more complex.