The Reading of the Will Concluded

The Reading of the Will Concluded
Artist	Edward Bird
Year	1811
Type	Oil on panel, genre painting
Dimensions	62.2 cm× 97.7 cm(24.5 in× 38.5 in)
Location	City Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol

'The Reading of the Will Concluded is a 1811 genre painting by the British artist Edward Bird. ^{[1] [2]} It features a group scene following the death of an wealthy old bachelor. His various relatives have all gathered hoping for a slice of his wealth. However, he appears to have named a modest Royal Navy officer as his heir to the irritation of others present. ^[3]

Genre scenes depicting ordinary life were popular during the Regency era. Bird was a member of the Bristol School of artists, influencing followers such as Francis Danby. The picture was displayed at the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1811 at Somerset House. The painting is in the collection of the City Museum and Art Gallery in Bristol, having been acquired in 1917. ^[4]

See also

• Reading the Will , an 1820 painting by David Wilkie

References

1. Greenacre p.108
2. Byrde p.112
3. Carter p.32
4. https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-reading-of-the-will-concluded-188061

Bibliography

• Byrde, Penelope. Nineteenth Century Fashion. Batsford, 1992.
• Carter, Julia. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery: Guide to the Art Collection. Bristol Books, 2017.
• Greenacre, Francis. The Bristol School of Artists: Francis Danby and Painting in Bristol, 1810-1840. City Art Gallery, 1973.
• Richardson, Sarah. Edward Bird, 1772-1819. Wolverhampton Art Gallery, 1982.