Skech for Timon of Athens 

Robert Smirke's sketch for Timon of Athens invites us to consider the complexities of social relationships and the sting of betrayal, themes resonant in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Smirke, working during a period of significant social and political upheaval, uses this Shakespearean narrative to probe the shifting sands of fortune and the disillusionment that can follow. The sketch depicts Timon, a wealthy Athenian, as he faces the abrupt withdrawal of support from his supposed friends. The scene is heavy with the emotional tension of broken trust. Note the supplicating figures begging for Timon’s continued favor, while others turn away. Smirke captures the poignant moment when generosity curdles into bitterness, reflecting the precarious nature of social bonds and the economic anxieties of his time. The sketch serves as a stark reminder of the human capacity for both profound connection and devastating betrayal.