A State Secret

A cardinal clad in the red robes of office burns a mysterious document. A horrified monk witnesses the deed from the shadows. The artist’s cousin, Mrs Andrew Ker, burned numerous sheets of notepaper in his studio so that he could study the flames. Conflict is suggested by the tapestry depicting an epic battle and the bronze statuette of wrestling figures.

According to the artist, this painting was based on ‘a possible typical incident’ under the rule of Richelieu or Mazarin. Both were powerful cardinals in 17th-century France who exploited their influence. The artist invites a contrast between this scene of a tyrannical leader and the Victorians’ system of democracy. The British believed their system of government was based on the principles of liberty and justice making Britain the most advanced nation in the world. Reform Acts throughout the 19th century substantially increased the electorate, yet universal suffrage was not gained until 1928.

Purchased by Thomas Holloway, 1882.