Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 204 works by John Gilbert in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals John Gilbert left, the most famous is Fair Saint George (1881), in the collection of the Guildhall Art Gallery, London. Close behind it come The Taming of the Shrew (1860) and Sir John Falstaff Reviewing His Ragged Regiment (1858). Our catalog holds 204 works by John Gilbert; the gallery has kept the 100 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
The air feels heavy with the scent of damp earth and the metallic tang of polished steel. In this frozen moment, a knight stands as a pillar of strength against a backdrop of rolling hills and a restless, cloudy sky. He holds his lance upright, his hands gripping the shaft with a steady, practiced ease that suggests a pause in a much longer, more perilous trek. His armor catches the…
The Taming of the Shrew is a dramatic scene rendered by the English artist John Gilbert. This work captures a moment of friction from a comedy written by William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1592. The image functions as an illustration for the publication of Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb. George Routledge released this specific version of the work.
In this 1858 work, we find ourselves drawn into a dense, theatrical scene that feels less like a static image and more like a captured moment from a stage play. The composition centers on Sir John Falstaff, draped in heavy red robes, as he conducts a meticulous review of his ragged regiment. Around him, a crowd of rustic characters gathers, their presence creating a sense of bustling, lived-in energy. The…
Scene From Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice by John Gilbert, a 19th-century watercolor painting, captures a dramatic moment from the play. Created about 1864, the work reflects the artist's deep engagement with literary narratives and the theatricality of the era. Gilbert, a prominent figure in British art, utilized the medium of watercolor to translate dramatic tension into a visual format.
The air thickens with the dust of a thousand marching feet in The Return Of The Victors. This grand scene, painted in 1878, captures a moment of triumphant movement as a victorious army sweeps through the landscape. The scale of the work suggests a panoramic view of history in motion, where the weight of victory meets the chaotic energy of a returning crowd. Every figure contributes to a sense of…
The oil painting titled Margaret of Anjou Taken Prisoner after the Battle of Tewkesbury was executed by the British artist John Gilbert in 1875. This work depicts a specific historical event centered on the aftermath of the Battle of Tewkesbury. The subject matter focuses on the immediate consequences of the conflict, specifically capturing the brutality and the state of the battlefield following the engagement.
The scene unfolds within a stone courtyard, where the heavy architecture of a castle provides a rigid backdrop to a moment of profound human interaction. Two figures dominate the composition, their physical presence defined by a stark contrast in stature and temperament. One figure, clad in the metallic sheen of armor, reaches upward with an air of lofty idealism, his posture embodying the very essence of knightly fantasy. Beside him,…
A steep hillside descends toward a valley, where the earth meets a turbulent sky. Beneath a canopy of dark, heavy clouds, a small fire flickers, casting a warm glow against the encroaching gloom. Figures huddle near the flames, surrounded by the quiet presence of horses, camels, and sheep. The air feels thick with the scent of woodsmoke and the weight of an approaching storm. Light breaks through the darkness in…
The river churns with a heavy, white froth, swallowing the light beneath the weight of armored horses. Two knights collide in the center of the surge, their swords and shields cutting through the spray. A tree leans precariously over the bank, its branches heavy with the threat of falling into the chaos below. In the foreground, a woman watches. Her face is a pale study in melancholy, a quiet stillness…
In this 1888 oil painting, two men are positioned in a close, vertical composition against the architectural backdrop of a stone building. The figure on the left wears a crown and is draped in heavy red robes accented with gold. He is turned toward the second man, his posture suggesting he is in the middle of speaking. The second man, characterized by a beard, is dressed in similar red and…
The Ford1891 · Guildhall Art Gallery
12
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza1840
13
Don Quixote Disputing with the Priest and the Barber1844
14
Her Majesty the Queen Holding a Drawing Room at St James's Palace1851
15
'Henry VIII', Act I, Scene 1, Cardinal Wolsey and Buckingham1861 · Royal Shakespeare Company Collection
16
Keston Common, Kent1856
17
Study Of Trees1874 · Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
18
Old Cottages At Lewisham1876 · Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
19
Preparing For The Charge1873 · Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
20
Landscape Sketch1877 · Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery
21
Don Sancho Panza, Governor of Barataria1875 · Manchester Art Gallery
22
The Baggage Wagon1884 · Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
23
A Windy Day1885 · Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
24
The Horse Pond at Tarring, Sussex1882
25
The Morning of the Battle of Agincourt1884 · Guildhall Art Gallery
26
Don Quixote's Niece and Housekeeper1891 · Guildhall Art Gallery
27
Stock exchange
28
The aberdeen cabinet
29
King John
30
King Henry's Forces At The Siege Of Harfleur,
31
Richard Ii
32
Henry Iv, Part I
33
War - After The Battle
34
Marmion's Defence to Douglas
35
Queen Elizabeth I Knighting Francis Drake
36
Coriolanus,
37
As You Like It
38
King Lear
39
King Lear
40
The Battle Of The Standard
41
Morning Of The Battle Of Agincourt
42
Titus Andronicus
43
The Heir Of Linne
44
Guy Fawkes Before King James
45
Much Ado About Nothing
46
King Henry Vi
47
The Merchant Of Venice
48
The Merchant Of Venice
49
Battle of the Standard,
50
Henry Viii And Cardinal Thomas Wolsey
51
Cordelia
52
Convocation Of Clergy
53
What Shall He Have That Killed The Deer
54
Wolsey
55
King Henry VI, Part I
56
Cardinal Wolsey On His Way To Westminster Hall,
57
The Brave Lord Willoughby
58
Valentine And Ursine
59
Under The Greenwood Tree
60
Rembrandt in his Studio
61
Fairies In A Bird's Nest
62
A Girl with Fruit1882 · Guildhall Art Gallery
63
Landscape with Hunting Party1893 · Guildhall Art Gallery
64
King Henry's Fleet Sails For France,
65
Malvolio
66
Measure For Measure,
67
The Tempest
68
Julius Caesar
69
Henry Iv, Part Ii
70
Henry Vi, Part I,
71
Come Away, Come Away, Death
72
The Merchant Of Venice,
73
The Two Gentlemen Of Verona
74
Romeo And Juliet,
75
Othello
76
Henry Vi, Part Iii,
77
After The Battle Of Naseby
78
Twelfth Night
79
The Merry Wives Of Windsor
80
Joan La Pucelle Abandoned
81
Valentine And Ursine
82
As You Like It
83
The Yellow Dwarf,
84
Investiture Of A Knight Of The Garter
85
Andrew Barton
86
Macbeth
87
Henry Viii
88
Hamlet
89
Tempest
90
Taming Of The Shrew
91
Othello
92
A Midsummer Night's Dream
93
King Richard Ii
94
Henry VMuseum of Fine Arts
95
Timon Of Athens
96
Joan Of Arc
97
Apotheosis Of Shakespeare's Characters
98
Guy Fawkes Brought Before James I And His Council
99
Come Away Death
100
The Merchant Of Venice
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 6 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by John Gilbert | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Guildhall Art Gallery |
London | 9 | Fair Saint George, Margaret of Anjou Taken Prisoner after the Battle of Tewkesbury, Lancelot du Lac |
 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery |
Birmingham | 9 | The Taming of the Shrew, Sir John Falstaff Reviewing His Ragged Regiment, Scene From Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice |
 Manchester Art Gallery |
Manchester | 2 | Don Sancho Panza, Governor of Barataria |
 Royal Shakespeare Company Collection |
Avon | 1 | 'Henry VIII', Act I, Scene 1, Cardinal Wolsey and Buckingham |
 Birmingham Museums And Art Gallery |
Birmingham | 1 | Landscape Sketch |
 Museum of Fine Arts |
Boston | 1 | Henry V |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
In this 1858 work, we find ourselves drawn into a dense, theatrical scene that feels less like a static image and more like a captured moment from a stage play. The composition centers on Sir John Falstaff, draped in heavy red robes, as he conducts a meticulous review of his ragged regiment. Around him, a crowd of rustic characters gathers, their presence creating a sense of bustling, lived-in energy. The…
The Taming of the Shrew is a dramatic scene rendered by the English artist John Gilbert. This work captures a moment of friction from a comedy written by William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1592. The image functions as an illustration for the publication of Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb. George Routledge released this specific version of the work.
The air thickens with the dust of a thousand marching feet in The Return Of The Victors. This grand scene, painted in 1878, captures a moment of triumphant movement as a victorious army sweeps through the landscape. The scale of the work suggests a panoramic view of history in motion, where the weight of victory meets the chaotic energy of a returning crowd. Every figure contributes to a sense of…
The air feels heavy with the scent of damp earth and the metallic tang of polished steel. In this frozen moment, a knight stands as a pillar of strength against a backdrop of rolling hills and a restless, cloudy sky. He holds his lance upright, his hands gripping the shaft with a steady, practiced ease that suggests a pause in a much longer, more perilous trek. His armor catches the…
The oil on canvas painting, titled The Ford, depicts a group of people riding horses through a rural landscape. The composition features several riders distributed across the pictorial space. One horse is positioned toward the left side of the frame, while another occupies the center. Two additional horses are situated on the right. The riders are spread out, with some figures appearing in the foreground, others in the middle ground,…
Fair Saint George (1881), Guildhall Art Gallery, London. The Taming of the Shrew (1860) and Sir John Falstaff Reviewing His Ragged Regiment (1858) come next.
64 years old: Fair Saint George dates from 1881, and John Gilbert was born in 1817.
Fair Saint George, The Taming of the Shrew, Sir John Falstaff Reviewing His Ragged Regiment, Scene From Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice, The Return Of The Victors, Margaret of Anjou Taken Prisoner after the Battle of Tewkesbury, Don Quixote and Sancho at the Castle of the Duke, Landscape with a Gypsy Encampment, Lancelot du Lac and Ego et Rex Meus. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 204 works by John Gilbert, dated from 1840 to 1893.
Mostly in Guildhall Art Gallery (London), Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Birmingham) and Manchester Art Gallery (Manchester). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1880s: 10 of the 100 works on this page were made then, Fair Saint George among them.
On this page, the earliest is Don Quixote and Sancho Panza (1840) and the latest Landscape with Hunting Party (1893).
Victorian era (8), Battle scene (6) and Dramatic lighting (5), across the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 8 of the 100 works on this page.
Romanticism, judging by the originals on this page.
Fair Saint George, Margaret of Anjou Taken Prisoner after the Battle of Tewkesbury and Lancelot du Lac: the Guildhall Art Gallery, London holds 9 of the works on this page.
