Prince Henry Acknowledging the Authority of Judge Gascoigne

Prince Henry—the future Henry V—submits to the authority of Judge Gascoigne in this 1845 painting in the Parliamentary Art Collection. The legend that the young prince was imprisoned for striking a judge, and that he accepted the punishment with good grace, was a popular subject in British art because it demonstrated the principle that even royalty was subject to the law. Redgrave"s version was painted for the Houses of Parliament, where its constitutional message was directly relevant.

The courtroom setting provides a formal stage for the confrontation between royal power and legal authority. Redgrave arranges the principal figures—the defiant prince and the stern judge—in a clear dramatic relationship that reads instantly. The historical costumes are rendered with careful antiquarian detail, reflecting the Victorian concern for historical accuracy in art. The palette is rich and warm, with the costumes and furnishings providing color within the architectural setting.