George Frederic Watts

Jonah

1894

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

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Not on display

Artist: George Frederic Watts 1817–1904
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 1555 × 914 mm
frame: 1875 × 1230 × 90 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by the artist 1897
Reference: N01636

Display caption

In this dramatic image Watts presents the gaunt Old Testament prophet Jonah warning the Ninevites to repent of their behaviour. The sins he denounces are shown in three parallel friezes, based on sculptures from the walls of Nebuchadnezzar’s palace: gambling, drunkenness, and greed – indicated by a group of figures crawling up to the money bags scattered on the floor.

Gallery label, September 2004

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