Henry Perronet Briggs, 1823, 149 x 199 CM
This painting was produced by Henry Peronet Briggs an artist who came from County Durham; who had learned his trade at the Royal Academy in the early nineteenth century. Briggs died of tuberculosis in London in 1844 at the age of 51.
This oil painting depicts a scene from the Houses of Parliament in November 1605 when Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed attempting to blow up parliament with King James I within the building. It was an act of rebellion in protest at years of religious intolerance aimed at Catholics.
The painting itself is visually striking; Guy Fawkes can be seen right of centre where he appears to be drawing a weapon as he is accosted beneath parliament. The person who is capturing him has a vibrant red jacket with a breastplate to protect him in case of a fight. The posing of the characters and the lighting in this painting are reminiscent of the Baroque style.
The painting is currently held in storage by Tyne and Wear Museums and Archives, it was last publicly exhibited at an exhibition held in 2006 called The Gunpowder Plot. Parliament and Treason in 1605.
Aisling on Art 