FORD MADOX BROWN
(1821-1893)
 

The Seeds and Fruits of English Poetry (Chaucer reading his poem at the Court of Edward III)

1845

chalk on paper, 34 x 50.3 cm

inscribed: Ford M Brown Roma 45’

P.131

A preliminary drawing for an oil sketch of comparable size in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. The same composition was used for other versions in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, and the Tate Gallery.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343-1400), is shown reading his poems at the Court of Edward III (d.1377). The figures, wearing laurel wreaths, in the two wings of the triptych are, on the left, Milton, Spenser and Shakespeare with the head of Goldsmith above and, on the right, Byron, Pope and Burns with the head of Thomson above.

The idea for this subject grew naturally from those being considered for the Houses of Parliament decorations which depicted the splendours of English literature  and history. The architectural framework and tracery are characteristic of the Gothic Revival, while the figures in the wings echo the Italian altarpieces that the artist saw on his way to Rome. However, Madox Brown decided to abandon the wings when he came to paint the large version. 

This is perhaps the chalk drawing made at Rome after a pencil design for the central panel he had brought from England. Madox Brown noted, (4 March 1855), that he took the chalk drawing out of his book of sketches and sent it to be mounted and framed. White, the dealer, bought it on 27 June and the artist noted that he had given it to MILLAIS ‘three years ago and (he forgetting it) I have now sold it for £8’.

EJ

PROVENANCE: Perhaps the study intended for J.E.Millais ?; sold by artist to D.T.White, dealer, June 1855; his sale Christie’s 21 April 1868, lot 611; bought by Tooth; Harold Rathbone (before 1911); sold to Lord Leverhulme 17 Feb 1919; his sale Knight, Frank and Rutley 16 June 1926, lot 204; anon. sale Christie’s 23 October 1953, lot 131; bought by Brown; The Leicester Galleries, from whom purchased by Gallery, November 1957.

EXHIBITIONS: Loan Exhibition of works by Ford Madox Brown and the Pre Raphaelites, Manchester, 1911, no.118 as Chaucer at the Court of Edward III; London, Tate Gallery, 1913, no.60; Bath, Victoria Art Gallery, 1913; Ford Madox Brown, Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, Southampton, Southampton City Art Gallery, 1964, no.50; Manchester & Birmingham, 1965.

REFERENCES: W.M. Rossetti (ed.), Pre-Raphaelite Diaries and Letters, London, 1900, pp.65, 169, 185; R. Watkinson, Pre-Raphaelite art and design, London, 1970; T. Newman & R. Watkinson, Ford Madox Brown and the Pre-Raphaelite Circle, 1991, pp.25-6, 29-31, 33-4, pl.40; Diary 4 March, 27 June 1855 (Ashmolean Museum); invoice 17 Feb 1919 (Lady Lever Art Gallery).