1205. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 58–59.
[London]
[Postmark: 6 April 1843]
You Ingenious little, darling invisible–
The Duke was not in England, & therefore was not one of the Clique who were insensible to the Je viens comme Themistocle [1] & when Blucher hinted putting Napoleon to Death [2] —who expressed indignation? the Duke– Have you read his Despatches? [3] these are the things—you have read every thing of Napoleon—but you have not read every thing of the Duke & ergo—your mind is not so well informed on the one as the other—& Ergo, you cannot be an equally just Judge– I have been to see Hayter’s Picture to day– [4] Brougham was Close to me & he seemed in a great passion—for He said the finest thing in it were Burdetts Boots!—the prime Figure is the door Keeper of the House of Commons[,] he is more prominent than the Duke—whose Portrait is very excellent–
Altogether it is a work of great labor—the Principles of Art must never be sacrificed—in these sort of Works–
I have painted Two—the Quakers & the Whigs [5] —if ever I paint a third, I will compose it, as if it was an ancient subject—& When settled as a fine Picture put in the heads–
Instead of that, or put them as they sit or as they stand and it becomes a burlesque—a Cauliflower of heads & a bunch of Cravats——
The best work of Hayter’s, a fair specimen of his natural powers is Lord William Russell’s trial– [6]
I dont like the Man he is a slave—he married a woman older than himself—ill used her—& his mistress poisoned herself[,] a very pretty little affair——
I mean to send you drawings of my children—you have seen the Mama—it is right you should see the offspring—you had better let the Servant bring down Wordsworth—& be ready in the Hall—so that the Exchange may be quietly managed– [7] I fear disturbing you too much—by these letters, Pictures & Messages[.] Quiet is every thing to you. I am delighted at Mary Mitford’s success—indeed—I hope to see my dear Friend safely settled–
My Eldest boy Frank has passed his Second examination at Jesus & has only one more[.]
Ever your[s] dear Madam
B R Haydon
Miss B. Barrett
Address: Miss B. Barrett / 50, Wimpole St.
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 66–67 (as 5 April 1843).
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. Napoleon’s plea for asylum in England (see letter 1197, note 9). Wellington was in France, in command of the Army of Occupation.
2. It had been suggested that Napoleon be put to death in the moat of Vincennes Castle, where the Duc d’Enghien had been executed in 1804 (see letter 762, note 16).
3. The Dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, During His Various Campaigns … from 1799–1818 (13 vols., 1834–39).
4. The Athenæum of 8 April (no. 806, p. 340) announced that “Sir George Hayter’s great Reform picture is at last finished, and now exhibiting at the Egyptian Hall.” Hayter (1792–1871) first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1809, before going to Rome to study. On Victoria’s accession, he was appointed Portrait and Historical Painter to the Queen and depicted both her coronation and wedding. In 1841 he succeeded Sir David Wilkie as Principal Painter-in-Ordinary to the Queen.
5. Haydon refers to “The Anti-Slavery Convention,” completed in 1841, and “The Reform Banquet,” finished in 1834. Many of the delegates to the abolitionist convention in 1840 were Quakers; the second painting portrayed the Whigs’ victory celebration after final passage of the Reform Bill in 1832.
6. William Russell, Lord Russell (1639–83), son of the 1st Duke of Bedford, was implicated in a plot to assassinate Charles I and the Duke of York and was tried for high treason; found guilty, he was beheaded on 21 July 1683. Hayter’s depiction of the trial was painted in 1825.
7. In letter 1184, Haydon had promised EBB a second portrait of Wordsworth, to replace “Wordsworth on Helvellyn.”
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