1523. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 193–194.

London

Feb 8 1844

My dearest Friend /

I am always willing to do any thing I am employed to do, I paint small or large, but I of course do that when not employed, my Soul glories in–

In my ultimate success is involved a principle, viz whether, Power when it oppresses is to be resisted or submitted to? That is the reason I hold out, & will to the last–

Instead of finding fault because the Patrons do not rise to my level, you all blame me for not descending to theirs—— For my interest you are right—but what a shocking state of taste. If I should request your protection of my box again I hope you will grant it.

I am now painting (small) George IV visiting Waterloo with the Duke, and I have rubbed in Macbeth after the Murder[;] [1] depend on my putting forth regularly small saleable things as well as large– In the Pictorial Times of last Sunday & next Sunday—it speaks of the Cartoon as (I think) it deserves– He has penetrated into my meaning & thoughts & principles—do get [’]em both– [2]

Yours always

B R Haydon

Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 170–171.

Manuscript: University of Vermont.

1. These two paintings are taken to be nos. 177 and 145 in Pope’s checklist (Pope, V, 598 and 600).

2. The Pictorial Times of 3 February 1844 cited Haydon’s “Adam and Eve” in the course of an article on the proposed decorations of the Houses of Parliament, opining “to say that Mr. Haydon has, in this work, succeeded beyond all the rest, is our highest praise” and finding in it “examples of form not surpassed by any efforts since the era of Polygnotus” (pp. 68–70). However, the expressed intention of commenting further in the next issue was not realized; it was not until the issue of 20 April that the cartoon was illustrated (bearing the title “The Curse”) with a repetition of the opinion that Haydon had “succeeded beyond all the rest” (pp. 248–249).

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