Romeo and Juliet

Working in oil on canvas, Frank Dicksee painted this romantic scene in 1884, capturing the lovers' passionate farewell at dawn. Romeo descends from Juliet's balcony after their wedding night, turning back for one last embrace. The rich Venetian colors and dramatic lighting heighten the emotional intensity of Shakespeare's tragedy.

Dicksee was a leading Victorian painter of romantic and historical subjects. This 171 × 118 cm canvas became one of the most reproduced images of Shakespeare's play. Now at the Southampton City Art Gallery, where it remains the collection's most famous work.