1226. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 97–98.
[London]
Sunday Apr 30 1843
My dearest Madam /
I am afraid you are ill!—not a line even on the Urn!– [1] I am now come to Leigh Hunt in my life—and as soon as I get to page 300—I shall send it to you–
Was not that I told you of one of the Brothers, a touching fact of a good heart—indeed I assure you John Hunt principally aided me at that time through the Picture of Solomon.—— The folly of Leigh has broken up the whole family— [2]
Have you got yet Wilkie[’]s life– I have read the first, & the 3rd[;] the 2nd I have not seen. Your admirable remarks on his character are capital– I have to tell my story yet—& tell it I will–
It is lamentable to see a mind so enslaved, as his mind was & a disposition being kicked in proportion, to submission–
All his letters to his Patrons, are pieces of the grossest acting– Cunningham left out the latter part of one of his letters feeling it to be so degrading—luckily I had a copy, or I should not have known it!–
Is it not shocking?– I assure you my indignation at his abominable usage by the Academy, was the principal instigation, more than my own wrongs, to attack the vices of that body—and directly after he refused to be seen with me in the Streets! [3]
If you like I will send you my Evidence before the Committee of the House– [4]
I am hard at work on Alexander but my dear Daughter’s danger harrasses my mind– I do not think she will recover.
I am My dear Friend
Ever yours
B R Haydon
Miss B Barrett
Address, on integral page: Miss B. Barrett / 50. Wimpole St.
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 91–92.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. He would not yet have received letter 1224.
2. For his previous comments on the Hunt brothers, see letter 1219.
3. Wilkie had been urged to withdraw one of his works from exhibition in 1810 (see letter 1214, note 9), and, at the same time, Haydon was told that space could not be found in the principal rooms for his entry, so he also withdrew. Subsequently, Haydon became very vocal in his criticisms of the Academy, recording that his attacks were principally out of deep affection for Wilkie; Wilkie’s response, however, was a reluctance to be seen in public with Haydon (Haydon, I, 142–143 and Pope, IV, 392).
4. In June 1836, Haydon was one of the artists called before a Select Committee on Arts and Principles of Design. His diary entry of 28 June read: “Grant the result of this Committee’s labors may be a final & effectual blow to the imposture of Academies all over Europe” (Pope, IV, 355).
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