Corbould’s painting depicts the moment at which Mephistopheles appears to the scholar Faust in his laboratory. The Queen had attended a performance of the play in June 1852. She had been particularly struck by the appearance of Mephistopheles, who, she recorded, was ‘quite horrid to look at’.

Commissioned by Queen Victoria and presented to Prince Albert on his birthday, 26 August 1852

No. 74