Noah, a Mystery
Only a small proportion of Corbould's works are in oil, his preference being for watercolour. In 1851 Corbould was appointed 'instructor of historical painting' to the Royal family, a post that he retained for 21 years. Many of his best works were acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Noah, a Mystery was commissioned in 1859 by Edward Shimells Wilson, Secretary and Solicitor to Hull's Trinity House, who was greatly interested in the mystery and nativity plays that were enacted in the streets of medieval towns. The scene seems to be taken from the corner of Posterngate, with Holy Trinity Church in the background, and is Corbould's interpretation of a medieval event. The plays were staged on a cart which was drawn through the streets of Hull. Although the artist randomly mixes medieval and 19th century ornament, he has included carefully detailed Arms and mottos relating to Hull and to Trinity House.
