1376. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 320–322.
London
Sept 7th [sic, for 8] 1843. [1]
On my return from seeing my dear Boy on board the Giant Frigate Steamer of the World 750 Horse power—the Penelope, [2] Tired—Sun burnt—breezy, hungry, & thirsty—I saw your hand writing[;] come said I I will keep that, “with Wine of Attic Taste” [3] and open it like a Walnut or a Filbert, and read it as I sip.— Roll up! will you?—let me know, and I will receive you like a Poetess!– (I was going to write Queen)——
That assertion in the Times of my leading a party in the Pantheon, is an exquisite bit of malice– I bespoke the Pantheon 2 months ago for myself—in conjunction with no one– The Pantechnicon was offered which I declined– [4]
As I head no section, & join nobody in going to the Pantheon if Mr Eastlake can by his circular to the Papers, excite a rumour Haydon heads a Pantheon party & people go & find no body but Haydon the impression is, no body will follow Haydon, & Haydon’s influence is injured!– Dont you see?– At first I contradicted it. Next year it will be said—“Nobody followed him to the Pantheon you see!!!–[”] Poor Haydon—the refinement is exquisite—they are all resolved to ruin my hold if they can—& By _____ they shall not. I defy them!–
I agree with you my dear dream—in choosing Subjects– But who has painted the crucifixion with the deep Religious feeling it ought to be painted with—no one. Am I to be he?—perhaps not—but I will try– [5]
I should no more think of painting the Dispute of the Sacrament[,] School of Athens—Heliodorus[,] Attila—Incendio de Borgo [6] —&c &c than of rewriting Macbeth—but when you come to “He bowed his head & gave up the Ghost” [7] —I laugh to scorn [8] all Crucifixions ever done——
There’s presumption! Oh dear but it is genuine—I am engaged to lecture through the Winter—on Cartoons & Lord knows what——
I got leave for Frederic, & we lay on the grass in a spot Boccacio only dreamt of but never saw— It was the very place, the Stories ought to have been told in the decameron, [9] if it be not the very spot– I maintain it is, & must be I felt so inspired, I could have gone on with a second series!–
Dear Boy!—Frederic—he is tall, handsome, & tender—he is going on Foreign Service [10] —a dangerous service—I felt it—& so did he—he begged me not to go back with him—but I did—and as I turned I saw him watching me with a spy glass—he waved his hat & so did I–
B. R. Haydon
There is nothing like danger! I could not live if I had not always the sensation of a precipice at my feet!— I glory in it!— Ah, my dearest Friend, how I would glory to die in a charge!—but I never shall! never!–
I relish not my Brothers in Art!– The poor, uneducated, un-sword & pistol creatures! My boys are all capital shots– I made it a part of education, as much as Classics or morals!– Frank can hit a half crown—beware how they insult his Father’s memory! After he beat ’em in Mathematics—they took him out to rifle firing—thinking here we’ll do him!—did they? I chuckled when I thought how his delicate & innocent face—took them in—— I am not a blood thirsty monster—upon my word—but I had a great mind to enter as supernumerary to day, when I saw the power of the Penelope—her Vast Wheels—her 68 pounders—the beam of her bow—sufficient to crash in a first rate—it will come to that—naval war will end in that—a Collision of prows like the Romans & Carthaginians—& then boarding[.]
Would you believe the family has not Nelson’s sword[;] they dont know where it is!!! These are descendants.– It is the strongest argument for another World—where the Poetry of this, is the reality of that— God bless you——we shall meet there–
Address: Miss B. Barrett / 50. Wimpole St.
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 144–147.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. Amended dating is based on Haydon’s diary entry and the 9 September postmark.
2. According to Haydon’s diary, this visit took place on 8 September (Pope, V, 308).
3. Cf. Milton, Sonnet XX, line 10, in Poems (1673).
4. The cartoon exhibition closed on 2 September. The Times of 6 September reported that the prize-winning cartoons would continue to be exhibited at the Suffolk-street Gallery. “The unsuccessful competitors are also, it is said, about to get up an exhibition of their subjects, though it is not yet fully arranged where it will take place. A large proportion of the artists are in favour of the Pantechnicon … while a section, with Mr. Haydon at their head, prefer the Pantheon.” The Times of 14 September announced that a selection of the cartoons could be seen at the Pantechnicon.
The Pantheon, at no. 306 Oxford Street, opened in 1772 as a theatre and public promenade. In 1834 it was reconstructed as a bazaar and picture gallery; it was closed permanently in 1867. The Pantechnicon, in Motcomb Street, Belgrave Square, was a repository for the sale of works of art.
6. Titles of frescos by Raphael.
7. John, 19:30.
8. Macbeth, IV, 1, 79.
9. Haydon recorded in his diary that he and Frederic “spent the day in a nook at Greenhithe worthy of Boccacio” (Pope, V, 308).
10. H.M.S. Penelope was bound for Africa (loc. cit.).
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