'Milton Composing Paradise Lost' is published here by courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soane Museum, London. This watercolour was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1802 (418) with the full title 'Milton Composing Paradise Lost "Oft the laurelle'd mortal stood etc"'. However Milton is clearly seated. The quotation may be from a Milton poem, most probably 'Paradise Lost'. The painting was exhibited in 1814 at Richard Westall's own exhibition (no 279) as being then owned by Sir John Soane. In 1835 Mrs Barbara Hofland wrote of this painting in 'Popular Description of Sir John Soane's Museum' (p 19 of 1919 edition): "'Milton Dictating to his Daughters' an exquisite drawing by Richard Westall, also claims attention: never had that excellent Artist a more happy conception of poetic dignity or filial tenderness, for all that the eye, the mind, or the heart requires in a subject of such touching interest." The title of the painting used by Hofland, differs from the RA exhibit but it is clearly the same painting as Soane owned in 1814. S.G. Feinberg in Oliver Millar's 'The Pictures in Southill: A Regency House' mentions that this 'subject of artistic inspiration' was treated earlier by Romney in 1793. I would be grateful to anyone who can pin down the origin of the quotation above.
'Milton Composing Paradise Lost' is published here by courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soane Museum, London. This watercolour was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1802 (418) with the full title 'Milton Composing Paradise Lost "Oft the laurelle'd mortal stood etc"'. However Milton is clearly seated. The quotation may be from a Milton poem, most probably 'Paradise Lost'.
ReplyDeleteThe painting was exhibited in 1814 at Richard Westall's own exhibition (no 279) as being then owned by Sir John Soane.
In 1835 Mrs Barbara Hofland wrote of this painting in 'Popular Description of Sir John Soane's Museum' (p 19 of 1919 edition): "'Milton Dictating to his Daughters' an exquisite drawing by Richard Westall, also claims attention: never had that excellent Artist a more happy conception of poetic dignity or filial tenderness, for all that the eye, the mind, or the heart requires in a subject of such touching interest."
The title of the painting used by Hofland, differs from the RA exhibit but it is clearly the same painting as Soane owned in 1814.
S.G. Feinberg in Oliver Millar's 'The Pictures in Southill: A Regency House' mentions that this 'subject of artistic inspiration' was treated earlier by Romney in 1793.
I would be grateful to anyone who can pin down the origin of the quotation above.