Lear and Cordelia 1848

Ford Madox Brown's 1848 painting "Lear and Cordelia" is a dramatic portrayal of a scene from Shakespeare's play "King Lear." The painting depicts Lear, the aged king, lying in a bed, seemingly dead, while Cordelia, his faithful daughter, reaches out to him. The background reveals a camp scene with soldiers and musicians, capturing the chaos and turmoil of the play's plot. Brown's meticulous attention to detail and use of rich colors evoke the emotional intensity of this pivotal moment, reflecting the Pre-Raphaelite style of art.