ariel riding on a bat
joseph severn
@ 1830.
Ariel sings:
Where the bee sucks, there suck I;
In a cowslip's bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
-- william shakespeare
...'This painting, in ruinous condition owing to the bitumen with which it was painted, represents Ariel flying on a bat's back, holding a peacock's feather. The subject occupied Severn for over ten years: the first painting is dated 1826 (Victoria and Albert Museum, London) and he exhibited others in 1830, 1836 and 1838. This version was shown to enthusiastic reviews in 1830'...
Joseph Severn (December 7, 1793 – August 3, 1879) was an English portrait and subject painter and a personal friend of the famous English poet John Keats.
On 17 September 1820, Severn sailed on board the ship Maria Crowther from England to Italy with the famous English poet John Keats. Keats and Severn had already known one another in England, but they were only passing acquaintances, yet it was Severn who agreed to accompany him to Rome when all others could, or would, not. They arrived in Rome on 15 November 1820. The trip was supposed to cure Keats's lingering illness, which he suspected was tuberculosis, however his friends and several doctors disagreed and urged him to spend some time in a warm climate. In Rome they both lived in an apartment at number 26 Piazza di Spagna, just on the right side of the world famous Spanish Steps.
Severn had left England against his father's wishes, without much money and had no idea of the severity of Keats's condition. While in Rome during the winter of 1820-21, Severn wrote numerous letters about Keats to their mutual friends in England. Severn's letters are the considered the definitive account of the poet's final months and are used as the primary historical source for scholars of Keats final months of life. Selections from them are often present in biographies of Keats.
Severn nursed Keats in Italy until his death in February 1821, 3 months after having both arrived there. Severn's troubles were noted and understood by Keats himself, and he was later thanked for his devotion to Keats by the poet Percy Shelley in the preface to his pastoral elegy named Adonais which was written for Keats in 1821.
Severn died in August 1879 at the age of 85 and a half, and was buried in the Protestant Cemetery right next to John Keats. Both graves are still standing today.
Comments and faves
Bats and Swallows, hoy▲joy, cyv2, herbert pfostl's paper graveyard, and 65 other people added this photo to their favorites.
·magnolia· (46 months ago | reply)
beautiful, thanks for sharing
herbert pfostl's paper graveyard (46 months ago | reply)
very much a favorite!
cyv2 (45 months ago | reply)
Incredible Painting∞never seen. Thanks)
paperwhite [deleted] (45 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Nineteenth Century English Poetry, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
paperwhite [deleted] (45 months ago | reply)
Thanks very much!
Ombrella2 (45 months ago | reply)
Fascinating ad Exquisite painting..
Could you send me this picture my dear,
Kind Regards
**Ombrella**
Gatochy (42 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Favorite Paintings, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
paperwhite [deleted] (40 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Literary Britain and Ireland, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
paperwhite [deleted] (40 months ago | reply)
Thank you!
Michelle Ilizaliturri Feshari (35 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Bat Illustrations and Art, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
The Lightworker [deleted] (23 months ago | reply)
i LOVE it!!!
jennifer93 (5 weeks ago | reply)
wow - this is a beautiful painting