Richard Westall RA, St Paul and the Viper, 1806, Original Watercolour

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An original 1806 watercolour painting, Richard Westall RA, St Paul and the Viper.This superbly painted biblical scene, at small scale … Read more An original 1806 watercolour painting, Richard Westall RA, St Paul and the Viper.This superbly painted biblical scene, at small scale in watercolour, displays the rich detail for which Richard Westall RA (1769–1836) is celebrated. Within a sheet of just 13 x 10.5cm (5 x 4"), Westall assembles nine finely modelled figures, centred around the dramatic encounter of Paul the Apostle with a venomous snake. The composition achieves a fullness of effect despite its small size, with the dramatic juxtaposition of light and dark, foreground detail and background atmosphere.Westall is known for his historical, literary and biblical subjects; the story of Paul and the Snake is told in Acts 28 of the New Testament, recounting Paul's journey from his arrival in Malta to finally settling in Italy. Here, on the shore in Malta, the people of the island build a fire to welcome him, but a snake is forced out by the fire and ascends Paul's arm. The people believe that Paul is being punished—but when he is unharmed by the snake's poisonous bite he is proven good. Paul's survival of the bite can be seen as fulfilling the prophetic assurance of God’s protection over His apostles as they spread the gospel.Westall's work in the late 18th century, encouraged by his chief patron, the taste-maker Richard Payne Knight, was innovative in helping to elevate the medium of watercolour closer to that of oil paintings. He used an intensity of colour and detail at a smaller, cheaper scale that appealed greatly to the market, and in 1795 Westall was pronounced in The St James’s Chronicle as 'the Founder of a particular School of Drawing in Water-Colours'.Westall was a prolific book illustrator of both fiction and poetry. His commissions included works for John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery and for Henry Fuseli's Milton Gallery, as well as illustrations to the works of Sir Walter Scott, Oliver Goldsmith, William Cowper, Thomas Gray and Byron. Byron greatly admired his work, stating of his illustrations that 'the brush has beat the poetry'; Westall painted several portraits of Byron. He also illustrated editions of the Bible, including one with John Martin.In watercolour on card.Please note the small size of this artwork Signed: Signed verso. Inscribed: Inscribed verso, including 'Reepham', which was the village near Norwich where Westall was born. Dated: Dated verso. Height: 13.1cm (5.2″) Width: 10.8cm (4.3″) Condition: Overall in good condition for its age. There is a small stain lower centre, and the odd tiny scattered mark or abrasion. Slight wear to the corners of the card. There are historic adhesive marks and/or paper remnants to the verso, from previous mounting. Please see photos for detail. Presented: Unframed. See less