"The same artist who painted Othello and Desdemona. The subject of this painting has been taken from the German translation of Shakespeare's King Lear, by Schlegel and Tieck, Act IV. Scene 7th, in which the king says to Cordelia: 'You do me wrong to take me out o' the grave:/ thou are a soul in bliss, but i am bound upon a wheel of fire,/ that mine own tears do scald like moulten lead.' " The artist's aim has been to represent the filial love of Cordelia, who, although disinerited and disowned by her father, clings to him - whereas his daughters Goneril and Regan, upon whom he bestowed his blessing, drove him into despair and madness. Upon the king's waking up from one of his fits, Cordelia speaks to him full of love and humility, and he consequently looks upon her as a spirit from the other world. King Lear rests in a fauteuil upon white pillows, and starting up with great trepidation, he stretches his right hand towards Cordelia, as if hesitating to touch her, whilst his left is pressed convulsively upon his heart. Cordelia bends down towards him with compressed hands, in which she holds her handkerchief wetted by her tears. behind the king's chair his physician seems to observe with great care his condition. these three figures in costly robes and in full light, constitute the chief attraction of the picture. At some little distance from cordelia stands the faithful Earl of Kent, in the habit of a servitor and messenger, he rests both his hands upon his battle-axe and unconsciously crumpling his barrett, looks anxiously at the scene before him; at his side is a youthful noble doing the same. Both these figures are in the shade. Sn the other side, behind the physician, are a young domestic, and a female attendant of cordelia; the former turns away, wiping his eyes with his hands, the latter looks upon her mistress with tearful eyes - these two figures are also in the shade. " The background is a rich canopy, and the view from the tent opens upon the French camp." [P. 46.]
Catalogue of a Private Collection of Paintings and Original Drawings by Artists of the Dusseldorf Academy of Fine Arts. New York: Wm. C. Bryant & Co., Printers, Nassau Street. 1851.
