Frith, William Powell, 1819-1909
- Person
- 1819-1909
William Powell Frith (1819-1909), painter of historical and genre works, including large canvases such as Derby Day (1858). “The Race for Wealth” comprises five paintings, all based around a fictional central character, a corrupt financier called The Spider, and all dealing with the theme of reckless financial speculation. Inspired by characters found in the novels of Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope, The Spider persuades his victims to invest in dubious schemes. Often compared with Hogarth’s “The Rake’s Progress,” “The Race for Wealth” portrays The Spider’s initial success, his unmasking, his trial, and ends with his imprisonment.