What is wrong is this picture

[Elderguilder]

No Guild content?

Well, there is a guy playing guitar, near the upper left corner. Maybe he's playing an old Guild!

 

[Rocky]

Charles and his chair do not have a shadow.

 

[cupric]

Lamp?

 

[walrus]

That is actually called "Dickens's Dream". A classic watercolor that Buss never finished.

My answer is "nothing".

walrus

 

[sailingshoes72]

On the top shelf, there is a volume missing from the set of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

 

[zulu]

Window frames aren't parallel. Bin it

 

[Opsimath]

It is an unfinished work, and seems Mr. Buss had not completed the rug which appears in front of the desk and in front of the bookcase up to Mr. Dickens' leg but no farther.

 

[spoox]

Dickens and his chair would not fit into the kneehole of the desk. I have actually had that happen many times trying to match desk chairs to antique desks, especially as people are much larger now than they were as a rule in Victorian times.

 

[mushroom]

It also appears that the bottom of the back wall (where it meets the floor - the skirting) seems not to line up. Like it jumps back a bit behind the chair??

 

[JohnW63]

His pants almost look like they have three legs. The closest one to the viewer is unfinished and has no foot at the end.

I tried using the hint about "Perspective" but I didn't see anything messed up about that. ( Do all the perspective lines connect at the same place sort of thing. )

 

[Opsimath]

His pants almost look like they have three legs. The closest one to the viewer is unfinished and has no foot at the end.

I tried using the hint about "Perspective" but I didn't see anything messed up about that. ( Do all the perspective lines connect at the same place sort of thing. )

I think Spoox has nailed it.

 

[spoox]

Here's the real thing--now see that the desk is too small and low in the unfinished painting:

 

[beecee]

TRC?

I think the third leg is actually his coat.

 

[beecee]

Well now that I can see it on a regular sized screen....his feet are levitating????

 

[JohnW63]

I noted the idea Spoox mentioned, but it wasn't a definite difference. Could his legs fit under the desk? The chair arms, would not.

 

[krysh]

Dickens on the chair is not drawn in the same perspective as the room.

 

[spoox]

I noted the idea Spoox mentioned, but it wasn't a definite difference. Could his legs fit under the desk? The chair arms, would not.

The arms on such chairs were never meant to fit under desks--you can see from the photograph of his desk and chair. Armless chairs were generally
the only ones that would be able to fit under Victorian desks, with or without someone sitting in them.

 

[Opsimath]

We have collectively searched for and pointed out various shortcomings in this portrait and Mr. Buss is not even here to defend or explain himself and his work. It has been an entertaining thread to follow.

I have tried to imagine Mr. Dickens reduced in size to match his desk or the desk enlarged to match Mr. Dickens and wonder if the size difference might have been intentional. There is a lot going on in this picture and a slightly larger Dickens catches the eye foremost before view moves to the characters, furniture, and room surrounding him. If he was smaller or everything else larger I wonder if he wouldn't be lost in the commotion.

So, I am going to agree with Walrus. There is nothing wrong here.

Okay, Nuuska, you have our assembled answers. We await yours!

 

[hearth_man]

Dickens was left handed. The pen is in his right hand.

 

[Nuuska]

Do you wish to ponder this further? Or should I reveal what I think?

I DID leave on slight wink yesterday - maybe it is unnoticed?