1166. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 346–349.
London
March 3. 1843
You good for nothing—Painting the Poetry of surface & location! Go along with you—I’ll make Flush bark at ye. I say it is not—Painting is the art of conveying thought by the imitation of things– The minds are the same, you little Invisible, the means are different– I’ll send you my lecture if you dont behave well– [1] I like you dealing out your anathemas from your sacred solitude, & your dog wagging his tail for joy at your mischief–
I swear if Mary Mitford comes to Town, she shall change her name! I’ll call her Mary Mudford– There is no fear Devonshire will do for her!
Know Caroline Norton!—to be sure I did!—splendid Creature– I knew her better than anybody ever did—& she knew me– I painted her as Cassandra for the Duke of Sutherland, [2] & mean to put her in several Pictures– The terrific power of her Eyes, is not to be imagined—she was to be pitied deeply—she loved Vernon Smith’s Brother, who died of a fever & she married an Ass, to get rid of her pang! [3] She disturbed our domestic happiness & that my sweetest Mary did not deserve, [4] —she was talented, silly, overbearing, impassioned, vain, malicious, grand, ambitious; a heroine! in civilized life, she was thrown away! She should have been mistress to Tamerlane or Attila, [5] she is a grand creature, & had a mysterious power in my imagination! & has now–
To no one but you but you did I ever say this—& do you say it to none—— [6]
Lady Seymour was a love, a Venus in figure but no music in her soul—not regularly handsome, cheeks too full—Eyes too large—face too round, yet bewitching & fascinating, apathetic yet witty—her skin polished, her lips pouting, her figure perfect– Lady Dufferin had more grace than either, was a most enchanting creature, great talent, & yet not masculine! well read, & yet not obtrusive– Indeed these 3 Sisters, were at one time the most delightful Creatures I ever saw, [7] I could have passed days with them, sketching, laughing, & intellectualizing, then they loved Genius, I flattered myself I was one—& you may imagine the rest—but they were so harrassed by Fashion & Society, they thought they could dare its censures; the abduction ruined them, as it was called—but they are perfectly innocent, they had been insulted, & like Women of Spirit made old General repent–
This is a slight Sketch of 3 of the loveliest Women I ever knew—though not one was as regular a beauty as Mary—I will send the Miniature of Mary & my Mother, & you shall judge– I made sketches of all them repeatedly—& remember their delightful Beauty, wit, & mischief, often–
Good night; I have just done a page looking with touching interest at the King John, & steamed him—you will like him– Chaucer is in in style.
Adieu, but not for ever– [8] Have the Portfolios tied up, if convenient & I will exchange them– Would you like the anatomy of Lion & Man?
Yours ever
B R Haydon
Address: Miss B. Barrett / 50– Wimpole St
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 40–42.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. A lecture given by Haydon at the Mechanics’ Institute on 9 September 1835 quoted Coleridge’s remark that “painting was a something between a thought and a thing” (Lectures on Painting and Design, 1844–46, I, 7).
2. “Cassandra Predicting the Murder of Agamemnon,” painted in 1834 and exhibited at the Society of British Artists in 1835, was purchased by George Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland (1786–1861).
3. Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton (née Sheridan, 1808–77) had married, in 1827, George Chapple Norton (1800–75), but the marriage was not a happy one (DNB). Robert Vernon Smith (1800–75) was later (1859) created Baron Lyveden; we have not traced the brother here mentioned.
4. A number of entries in Haydon’s diary reflect his infatuation with Mrs. Norton and its effect on his domestic tranquillity: “[Mary] is uneasy … she knows every thing of my unfortunate infatuation”; “Sublime creature, without wishing to be unfaithful to Mary, I cannot help a passion for her”; “Caroline’s Power is dreadful. She nearly destroyed me in struggling to get free” (see Pope, IV, 112, 128, 189ff, 201, 255–256).
5. Tamerlane (Timur the Lame, 1336–1405), great-great-grandson of Genghis Khan, conquered large areas of Asia. Attila, King of the Huns (d. 453) ravaged parts of Europe during the declining years of the Roman Empire.
6. Haydon’s dash here is nearly the width of the page; this emphasis may also explain the repetition of “but you.”
7. The three Sheridan sisters were famous beauties. Jane Georgiana (1810–84) married, in 1830, Edward Adolphus Seymour (1804–85), later (1855) 12th Duke of Somerset. Helena Selina (1807–67) married, in 1825, Price Blackwood (1794–1841), later (1839) 4th Baron Dufferin and Clandeboye.
8. Cf. Byron, “Fare Thee Well!” (1816), lines 1–2.
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