JOHN GILBERT (England, 1817-1897). "The galley... Lot 13

JOHN GILBERT (England, 1817-1897). "The galley slaves, 1881. Oil on canvas. It has restorations and leaps in the painting. Signed and dated in the lower central area. Measurements: 122 x 166 cm, 135 x 176 cm (frame). In this work the author presents an image based on the episode of the Galeotes, which is narrated in Cervantes' Don Quixote. In this scene, the main character, Don Quixote de la Mancha, meets a large number of people condemned to the galleys (boats), and when he takes an interest in them, he asks them what their faults are; some for being procurers, others for stealing and another for not being able to bribe the governor. Don Quixote tries to convince the guards who are guarding them to release them, and when he fails to do so, he frees them himself, advising them to tell his beloved Dulcinea of their deed. The galley slaves refuse, so Don Quixote, after freeing them, turns on them. John Gilbert was born in Surrey, self-taught, his only formal instruction being under the guidance of George Lance. Gilbert's technical skill, however, earned him the nickname "the Scott of painting". He was best known for the illustrations and woodcuts he produced for the Illustrated London News. Gilbert was initially apprenticed to a firm of estate agents. He was unable to enter the Royal Academy schools, but mastered watercolour, oil and other techniques. From 1836 he exhibited at the Society of British Artists and at the RA from 1838. The patron Thomas Sheepshanks and the artist William Mulready suggested that he learn wood engraving. He designed an impressive number of woodcuts (over 2000) for The London Journal. He also produced many book illustrations of almost all the major English poets. He became president of the Royal Watercolor Society in 1871 and a year later, in 1872, he was knighted.