Josephine and the Fortune-teller
David Wilkie·1837
Historical Context
Wilkie painted Josephine and the Fortune-teller in 1837, depicting the legend that a card-reader in Martinique predicted Josephine's future as Empress of France. The exotic Caribbean setting and the prophetic subject reflect Wilkie's late interest in Romantic narrative and historical anecdote. As Principal Painter in Ordinary, Wilkie occupied the summit of the British art establishment, and his late royal portraits and Middle Eastern subjects reflect his ambition to expand beyond the Scottish ge
Technical Analysis
Wilkie renders the tropical setting with warm, atmospheric colors influenced by his study of Venetian masters. The loose brushwork and rich palette of his late style create an exotic, dreamlike atmosphere suited to the prophetic subject.
_-_Sketch_of_a_Head_for_'The_Rabbit_on_the_Wall'_-_FA.231(O)_-_Victoria_and_Albert_Museum.jpg&width=400)
_-_The_Broken_Jar_-_FA.225(O)_-_Victoria_and_Albert_Museum.jpg&width=400)
_-_The_Refusal_-_FA.226(O)_-_Victoria_and_Albert_Museum.jpg&width=400)
_-_The_Daughters_of_Sir_Walter_Scott_-_FA.230(O)_-_Victoria_and_Albert_Museum.jpg&width=400)
.jpg&width=600)