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Oberon and Titania - First Study for "The Quarrel"

Artist: Paton, Joseph Noel, Sir, RSA · 1821-1901Frame maker: Doig, McKechnie and Davies

This painting depicts Act II scene i of Sir William Shakespeare's play, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and is a study for the finished painting 'The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania' which was originally purchased by RAPFAS in 1850 and was transferred to the collection of the National Gallery of Scotland (NG 293) in 1897. The National Gallery of Scotland also holds the related painting 'The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania' (NG294) which was originally in the RSA collection before being transferred in 1910. That work secured Paton one of the three premiums of £300 which were made to works submitted in 1847 for the decoration of the new Houses of Parliament at Westminster in London.

RSA Vouchers, 1882, Bundle 1 of 3, unnumbered; "Receipted invoice from Doig, McKechnie & Davies, carvers & Gilders, 90 George Street, Edinburgh; "1881 Dec 12 Rich orn[amen]t[e]d gilt frame 24 5/8 x 16 3/4 £4.10/-/ White patent plate glass for do 15/-/ Lining, Cleaning and Restoring picture "Oberon & Titania" by Sir Noel Paton 25 x 17 £7.10/-" The same invoice carries details of the reframing of the finished work also (transferred to NGS, 1910).



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