1239. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 117–118.
London
May 11. 1843
My dearest Friend /
Saragossa is at the Academy, nearer Heaven than it ever was before, or ever will be again– [1]
It is painful to see such Malignity–
The very Men Shee, Phillips, & Howard, who 34 years ago used Dentatus so shamefully [2] had influence again this year and though I saw them all before a Committee, [3] & saw them pale & standing like Culprits as a bit of moral justice, they could not in their hearts let such an opportunity escape of giving another Mumbling bite with their withered toothless gums before they drop into the grave which yawns to receive them putrid with their own Poison! I laugh at their impotence, I only ask if I had sent my great works to them for the last 20 years where would have been my name & reputation–
In execution & equality of Painting I have never exceeded it, and if it had been placed on the line which by law is fixed as the height for Pictures, no Picture would have had more force— I have not the least doubt at this critical period, they hoped I would fire up, make a great noise, irritate the Patrons, just before the Cartoon Contest, [4] and so endanger the remaining prospect of my life– I have not complained nor shall I but to you—but it is painful not so much the power of doing injury as the intention to try, so visible in Academicians! If you want to see, a pure unmitigated, specimen of malice, you should look in an Academician’s face, when he is hanging a rival!
It is to be raffled for—but I fear they will injure it[.] [5]
My daughter is still poorly but not worse or sinking— I trust in God—
I fear the Curtius is a bad business—for I get nothing satisfactory about the purchaser— Here is a regular Æschylean croak, like the Daemon in Agamemnon! [6]
So far I have kept up your Spirits—this will be a Contrast.
Yours affectionately
B R Haydon
Miss B. B.
Address: Miss B. Barrett / 50. Wimpole St
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 96–97.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. i.e., too high (see letter 1237).
2. See letter 1136 for Haydon’s complaint about the hanging of “The Assassination of Dentatus.” Sir Martin Archer Shee (1769–1850), portrait painter, was elected president of the Royal Academy in 1830, which post he held until his death. Thomas Phillips (1770–1845), another portrait painter, was elected to the Academy in 1808; in 1814, he produced what is considered to be the best likeness of Byron. Henry Howard (1769–1847) painted portraits and historical scenes. He became an Academician in 1808, Secretary of the Academy in 1811, and Professor of Painting at the Academy in 1833.
3. Haydon refers in his diary to the testimony given in 1836 before the Select Committee on Arts and Principles of Design (Pope, IV, 355).
4. This was due to open in June.
5. “The Maid of Saragossa” was raffled and netted Haydon 500 guineas; it was won by James Webb (Pope, V, 594–595).
6. A reference to the dæmon speaking through Cassandra when she prophesied Agamemnon’s death (lines 1173–77).
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