To the left stands Viola-Cesario. Olivia, accompanied by Maria, looks adoringly toward "him." In the play Feste, the fool, exits the garden just before Olivia's appearance, but, as he is described as holding a tabor (a drum like a tambourine without jingles), his presence in the painting helps confirm that the scene is indeed from Twelfth Night. To the far right stand Sir Andrew Aguecheek and a portly Sir Toby Belch. The artist's technical abilites are limited. The figures are awkwardly rendered; the characterization of Viola-Cesario seems particularly fortunate. Spatial relationships are also poorly articulated. For example, Sir Andrew's left arm is in advance of Sir Toby, while Sir Toby's right leg projects beyond Sir Andrew's left one. The background is only vaguely rendered, and it is not clear to where the steps lead. Olivia and Maria have perhaps emerged from a portal in the brown wall, as an indistinct light blue area appears behind Olivia's head.
Note
Title from Pressly.
Source of acquisition
Edwin Parsons, Fine Art Dealer and Publisher, 5 Amersham Rd., Putney, London SW15 [1927], May 1928, £35.2.0 (£39 less 10 percent), as by Stothard.
Cited/described in
Pressly, W.L. Paintings in the Folger Shakespeare Library, 80
