Gallery Edition – Scene XIII [i.e. act 4, scene 1 of Merchant of Venice], a court of justice (lines commencing Take then this pound of flesh) by Balliol Salmon – 63×44 Interior Architectur

Curatorial Narrative In 1905, Balliol Salmon crafted “Scene XIII”, a masterful rendering of a court of justice, evoking the tense atmosphere of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. Through his meticulous realist technique, Salmon conjures an environment of weighty deliberation, where the subtle play of grayscale tones and fine brushwork orchestrates a sense of foreboding. The artist’s focus on detailed line work and shading imbues the scene with a palpable sense of gravity, transporting the viewer to the somber confines of a Gothic Revival-inspired setting.When scaled up to 63×44 inches, “Scene XIII” assumes an architectural presence, its monochromatic palette unfolding as a richly nuanced spatial rhythm. The fine brushwork and subtle gradations of tone coalesce into a chromatic structure that resonates with the materiality of luxury interiors. In this context, the artwork’s atmospheric weight is amplified, casting a dramatic shadow on