Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Robert Vernon
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/daniel-maclise-365" aria-label="More by Daniel Maclise" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Daniel Maclise</a>
Scene Twelfth Night Malvolio and Countess
Presented by Robert Vernon 1847
‘Twelfth Night’
actions: expressive
adults
animals: mammals
architecture
aristocrat
characters
clothing and personal items
courtier
diseases and conditions
dog - non-specific
domestic
flower
garden
garden structures
greeting
literature and fiction
maid
Malvolio
man
mental illness
objects
people
plants and flowers
royalty and social rank
Shakespeare
staff
stocking
topiary
woman
work and occupations
<p>This picture shows a scene from William Shakespeare’s play <span>Twelfth Night</span>. Malvolio works in the household of the rich Countess Olivia. Fed up with his arrogant behaviour, Malvolio’s colleagues trick him into believing that Olivia is in love with him, by forging a letter from her. The letter suggests that if Malvolio shares her feelings, he should show this by wearing yellow stockings, as seen in this painting. It also requests that he smile constantly. Malvolio follows the demands of the letter, and his uncharacteristic behaviour and appearance lead Olivia to believe he is mentally ill.</p><p><em>Gallery label, February 2019</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
24 October 2001 – 11 July 2005
2005-07-11
24 October 2001
2001-10-24
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2001-10-24
Making British History
Collection based display
15 February 2003 – 19 October 2003
2003-10-19
16 July 2003 – 19 October 2003
2003-10-19
2003-07-16
Dulwich Picture Gallery (London, UK)
2003-02-15
Shakespeare in Art
Loan-out
2 September 2011 – 9 April 2012
2012-04-09
2 September 2011 – 9 April 2012
2012-04-09
2011-09-02
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2011-09-02
Romantic Shakespeare
Collection based display
10 October 2014 – 1 November 2015
2015-11-01
10 October 2014 – 1 November 2015
2015-11-01
2014-10-10
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2014-10-10
Poor Man's Picture Gallery
Collection based display
Scene from ‘Twelfth Night’ (‘Malvolio and the Countess’)
support: 737 × 1245 mm
frame: 1042 × 1547 mm
Presented by <a href="/search?gid=999999978" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Robert Vernon</a> 1847
<div class="text">
<p>This picture shows a scene from William Shakespeare’s play <i>Twelfth Night</i>. Malvolio works in the household of the rich Countess Olivia. Fed up with his arrogant behaviour, Malvolio’s colleagues trick him into believing that Olivia is in love with him, by forging a letter from her. The letter suggests that if Malvolio shares her feelings, he should show this by wearing yellow stockings, as seen in this painting. It also requests that he smile constantly. Malvolio follows the demands of the letter, and his uncharacteristic behaviour and appearance lead Olivia to believe he is mentally ill.</p>
</div>

Display caption
2019-02-05T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
actions: expressive adults animals: mammals architecture aristocrat characters clothing and personal items courtier diseases and conditions dog - non-specific domestic flower garden garden structures greeting literature and fiction maid Malvolio man mental illness objects people plants and flowers royalty and social rank Shakespeare staff stocking topiary ‘Twelfth Night’ woman work and occupations