Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Charles lamb

Name Class Date

Daniel Maclise, Charles lamb. Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Daniel Maclise wikioo.org/en/artists/daniel-maclise/
Artist’s dates
1806 – 1870

In context

Charles lamb — Daniel Maclise

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1800
  2. 1810
  3. 1820
  4. 1830
  5. 1840
  6. 1850
  7. 1860
  8. 1870

Row above: the year. Row below: the artist's age in that year.

Shaded: the lifetime of Daniel Maclise (1806–1870)

First works: up to 1836 Main working years: 1836–1859 Late works: from 1859

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell.

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wikioo.org/en/art/similar/daniel-maclise-charles-lamb-9HTN22-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Phthalo Green #272717

    Catalogued palette

    • #272717
    • #BE9C59
    • #7F6F43
    • #544C2E
    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Phthalo Green
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Bold How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Daniel Maclise over the last twelve months — 5 countries in all.

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 85.2%
    2. 2 Singapore 5.6%
    3. 3 United Kingdom 3.7%
    4. 4 Hong Kong 3.7%
    5. 5 United States of America 1.9%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Daniel Maclise

    1. 1 The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife 6.6%
    2. 2 Madeline after prayer 4.9%
    3. 3 Charles lamb this painting 4.9%
    4. 4 Washington Irving 4.9%
    5. 5 A Scene from 'Undine' (detail), 1843 3.3%
    6. 6 Snap-Apple Night 3.3%
    7. 7 The Origin of the Harp 3.3%
    8. 8 King Lear and Cordelia 3.3%
    9. 9 Winthrop Mackworth Praed 3.3%
    10. 10 The Opera Box, Design for a Wood Engraving. Tracing, from the Principal Figure in Reverse 1.6%
    11. 11 Cottage Group 1.6%
    12. 12 May 1.6%
    13. 13 Merry Christmas in the Baron's Hall 1.6%
    14. 14 Scene from Ben Jonson's Every Man in His Humour (Act II, Scene I) 1.6%
    15. 15 Charles Dickens 1.6%
    16. 16 The reign of King Richard the Third 1.6%
    17. 17 The Death of Nelson (detail) 1.6%
    18. 18 Francis I And Diane Of Poitiers 1.6%
    19. 19 The writing lesson 1.6%
    20. 20 The Combat of Two Knights 1.6%

    Together these works take 55.4% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 221 works by this artist, of which 47 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 3 of them, with 4.9% of that attention.

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Daniel Maclise

    Born in Cork, Ireland

    Early Life and Education

    Born: January 25, 1806, Cork, Ireland

    Died: April 25, 1870, London, England

    Parents: Alexander McLish (tanner/shoemaker) and Rebecca McLeish

    Early education in Cork; showed artistic talent from a young age.

    Studied at the Cork School of Art, focusing on drawing and anatomy.

    Self-funded move to London in 1827 to pursue art studies.

    Entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1828, excelling in life drawing and history painting.

    Career and Major Works

    Rapidly gained recognition for his portrait skills, notably depicting Charles Kean and Niccolò Paganini.

    Contributed significantly to Fraser's Magazine under the pseudonym "Alfred Croquis," creating a series of character portraits that enhanced his reputation.

    Became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1835 and a full member in 1840.

    Notable Works:

    The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher after the Battle of Waterloo (located at Westminster Palace)

    The Death of Nelson (located at Westminster Palace) – A monumental fresco considered one of his masterpieces.

    The Chivalric Vow of the Ladies and the Peacock

    Illustrations for Charles Dickens' Christmas books and other works.

    Artistic Style and Influences

    Maclise’s style blended historical narrative with elements of realism and portraiture.

    Influenced by French and classical art, particularly after his visit to Paris in 1830.

    His work often depicted scenes from history, literature (Shakespeare), and mythology.

    Demonstrated a keen eye for detail and characterization in both portraits and historical compositions.

    Later Life and Legacy

    Intense dedication to his art took a toll on his health.

    Declined the presidency of the Royal Academy in 1865 due to declining health.

    Died in Chelsea, London, in 1870.

    A memoir was published by William Justin O'Driscoll in 1871.

    Maclise’s murals at Westminster Palace remain significant contributions to British art and architecture.

    His illustrations for Dickens helped popularize the author's works.

    Considered a key figure in Victorian-era history painting, bridging the gap between Neoclassicism and Realism.

    Historical Significance

    Maclise played a crucial role in documenting significant historical events and figures for a wider audience.

    His work reflects the cultural and artistic trends of the 19th century, particularly the Victorian era's fascination with history and literature.

    He helped establish the tradition of large-scale narrative painting within British art.

    His contributions to Westminster Palace’s decoration are integral to the building's aesthetic and symbolic importance.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Charles lamb

    wikioo.org/en/art/download/daniel-maclise-charles-lamb-9HTN22-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Maclise, Daniel. Charles lamb. n.d., https://wikioo.org/en/art/daniel-maclise-charles-lamb-9HTN22-en/
    APA
    Maclise, Daniel (n.d.). Charles lamb [Painting]. https://wikioo.org/en/art/daniel-maclise-charles-lamb-9HTN22-en/
    Chicago
    Daniel Maclise. Charles lamb. n.d. https://wikioo.org/en/art/daniel-maclise-charles-lamb-9HTN22-en/
    Harvard
    Maclise, Daniel (n.d.) Charles lamb. Available at: https://wikioo.org/en/art/daniel-maclise-charles-lamb-9HTN22-en/

    Look closely

    Charles lamb — Daniel Maclise

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    Is "Charles lamb" available as a fine art print?

    To get a print of "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise, simply order it on this page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.

    Does "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise use strong contrasts or soft harmonies?

    The color analysis of "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise records a bold contrast and a unified palette harmony.

    Who created "Charles lamb"?

    "Charles lamb" is attributed to Daniel Maclise.

    How strong are the colors of "Charles lamb"?

    "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise is recorded with a clear color presence saturation and a vivid intensity.

    How much light do the colors of "Charles lamb" appear to reflect?

    The colors of "Charles lamb" show a gentle luminance luminance.

    Where can I buy a hand-painted reproduction of "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise?

    Hand-painted copies of "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise are sold on this website: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, ordered from this page.

    Can the image of "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise be freely reproduced?

    The copyright answer for "Charles lamb" by Daniel Maclise: the work is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. This determines whether reproductions of the image may be freely made.