An Inquisitive Messanger

When first exhibited at the 1857 annual exhibition, this historicizing genre scene with its humorous touch and painterly rendering attracted the attention of both the public and critics. On his way from the castle a messanger, in a 17th-century costume, carefully examines a small parcel. With exquisite details of the woods and emphasis on a subtle colour scheme, the picture renders the atmosphere of an early morning in natural surroundings. The sharp contrasts of light and shade, achieved with the use of local colours, enhance the airy perspective, while pastose colours render the salient features of vegetation.