Charles Robert Leslie

A Scene from Tristram Shandy (‘Uncle Toby and the Widow Wadman’)

1829–30, exhibited 1831

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display

Artist: Charles Robert Leslie 1794–1859
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 813 × 559 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by Robert Vernon 1847
Reference: N00403

Display caption

This is an illustration from chapter 24, volume 8, of Laurence Sterne's novel 'The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman' (1760-7). Tristram's uncle, Toby, is a veteran of the siege of Namur where he received a nasty groin injury. His hobby is re-enacting historic sieges in miniature in his garden, all of which he masterminds from his sentry box. Toby's neighbour, the widow Wadman, lays siege to his heart. She finally captures it by complaining that she has a speck of dust in her eye. Toby is forced to look, but sees nothing. But this eye, 'full of gentle salutations - and soft responses', seduces him and he falls in love. Leslie was a popular genre painter, modelling his work on that of Hogarth and Wilkie.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

architecture(41,241)
- military(6,816)
- - sentry box(5)
leisure and pastimes(7,752)
- recreational activities(2,836)
- - smoking(284)
literature and fiction(3,162)
- literature (not Shakespeare)(2,296)
- - Sterne, Laurence, ‘Tristram Shandy’(4)
objects(23,256)
- clothing and personal items(5,875)
- - handkerchief(19)
  - pipe(95)
- scientific and measuring(793)
- - map(110)
people(34,990)
- actions: expressive(2,630)
- - comforting(76)
- actions: postures and motions(9,090)
- - sitting(3,318)
- actions: processes and functions(2,147)
- - looking / watching(580)
- adults(22,615)
- - man(10,372)
  - woman(9,043)
society(34,782)
- family(4,135)
- - widow(39)
- sex and relationships(5,323)
- - flirtation(45)

You might like

Charles Robert Leslie Uncle Toby and the Widow Wadman

1842
Charles Robert Leslie A Scene from Milton’s ‘Comus’

exhibited 1844
Charles Robert Leslie Lady Jane Grey Prevailed on to Accept the Crown

exhibited 1827
Joseph Mallord William Turner Pilate Washing his Hands

exhibited 1830

On display at Tate Britain part of Turner Collection
Frederick Richard Pickersgill Amoret, Aemylia and Prince Arthur, in the Cottage of Sclaunder

exhibited 1845
Frederic George Stephens The Proposal (The Marquis and Griselda)

c.1850
Joseph Mallord William Turner Between Decks

1827

On display at Tate Britain part of Turner Collection
Henry Thomas Alken The Belvoir Hunt: The Death

c.1830–40
Benjamin Robert Haydon Punch or May Day

1829

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Charles Robert Leslie Head of Prince Hal

c.1851
Henry Perronet Briggs Romeo and Juliet - Act II Scene 5 (‘Juliet and her Nurse’)

exhibited 1827
Joseph Mallord William Turner Scene in Venice

c.1840–5
George Dawe Imogen Found in the Cave of Belarius

exhibited 1809
Joseph Mallord William Turner Venetian Scene

c.1840–5
Charles Robert Leslie The Carved Room, Petworth House, Sussex (c1856). Verso: Sketch of a Seated Male Figure in Van Dyck Costume (1844)

c.1856

In the shop

Browse the shop