Solitude

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Solitude
Solitude
Solitude
National Museum Wales, Cardiff
title=Credit line
Artist
William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810) after Wilson
Title
Solitude
Date
Published 4 June 1778
Medium
Engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
Metric: 505 x 648 mm
Imperial: 19 7/8 x 25 1/2 in.
Accession Number
NMW A 11007
Wilson Online Reference
E44E
Description
A sheltered pool is shown surrounded by rocky banks with a weeping willow on the left. There are two monks on the bank to the right, one sitting against a tree reading and other monks can be seen praying around a cross erected in front of a small building, almost hidden in a forest in the background.
Provenance
Unrecorded
Signature/inscription
Signature on flat stone lower right: R W 1764 [?]
Lettered lower left:
[1] 'Painted by Richard Wilson, R.A.'
[2] 'Still let me pierce into the midnight depth
Of yonder Grove, of wildest largest growth
That, forming high in air a woodland quire
Nods o'er the mount beneath. At every step
Solemn, and slow, the shadows blacker fall,
And all is awful listening gloom around.'
Lower centre:
[1] 'SOLITUDE.'
[2] To Sir George Beaumont, Bart,, [Beaumont arms with motto, ERECTUS NON ELATUS] this PLATE is Dedicated,
By his obliged humble Servant, William Woollett,
From the original Picture in the possession of Mr. Rob Ledger.
Published as the Act directs, 4 June, 1778; by Wm. Woollett. Engraver to His MAJESTY, Green Str. Leicester Fields, London.'
Lower right:
[1] Engraved by Wm,, Woollett & Wm,, Ellis
[2] 'These are the haunts of Meditation, these
The scenes where ancient bards th'inspiring breath,
Extatic, felt; and from this world retird.
Thomson's Summer, line 516.
Subject
Taken from James Thomson's The Seasons: Summer (1730 edition, lines 439-447, slightly modified ; 1746 edition, lines 513-521; later editions, lines 516-524)
Related Drawings
D359 Solitude, Study for a Picture, c.1762, The British Museum (1881,0212.3)
Related Prints
E57 Christian Duttenhofer after Wilson,Solitude, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven
A further impression is at Bristol City Museum and Gallery (Ma1568)
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Related Paintings
P114 Solitude - I, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea
P114A Solitude - I, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
P114B Solitude - I , Private Collection Ireland
P115 Wilson and Studio, Solitude - II, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Critical commentary
The composition is very close indeed to that of the Duttenhofer print E57.
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
69.219
1969
Bibliography
Edwards 1808, p. 88; Fagan 1885, p. 45, cat. XCIX, 5th State
Link to WG Constable Archive Record
Condition/Conservation
Damaged along bottom edge and discoloured especially round edges
Updated by Compiler
2016-12-20 00:00:00