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    300 years
    "Wilson and Europe 2014 " is linked to these Works
    of 122

    Solitude

    Solitude
    Solitude
    Solitude
    Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
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    Artist
    William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810) after Wilson
    Title
    Solitude
    Date
    Published 4 June 1778
    Medium
    Line engraving and etching on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream laid paper
    Dimensions
    Metric: 445 x 546 mm
    Imperial: 17 1/2 x 21 7/8 in.
    Collection
    Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven. To license images click here
    Accession Number
    B1977.14.14571
    Wilson Online Reference
    E44A
    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.
    Exhibited
    Tercentenary 2014 (120)
    Provenance
    Acquired 1977
    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 wiith 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.
    Verso inscriptions
    [1] Graphite, lower left: 'L0120109 / 12334'
    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
    Object ID: 40398
    Bibliography
    Edwards 1808, p. 88; Fagan 1885, p. 45, cat. XCIX, 5th State; Wilson and Europe 2014, p. 297
    Link to WG Constable Archive Record
    WGC/1/1/30
    Condition/Conservation
    Glazed and framed. Trimmed to plate line. Repaired tears at the corners.
    Updated by Compiler
    28/07/2017

    Work of Art

    Drawings

    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782), Solitude, Study for a Picture, The British Museum

    Prints

    • Christian Duttenhofer (1778-1846) after Wilson,Solitude, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven

    Versions

    • William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810)after Wilson, Solitude, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
    • William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810)after Wilson, Solitude, National Museum Wales, Cardiff
    • William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810)after Wilson, Solitude, National Museum Wales, Cardiff
    • William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810)after Wilson, Solitude, The British Museum
    • William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810)after Wilson, Solitude, Royal Academy of Arts, London
    • William Woollett (1735-1785) and William Ellis (1747-1810)after Wilson, Solitude, National Museum Wales, Cardiff

    Paintings

    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782), Solitude I, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782), Solitude I, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782), Solitude I, Private Collection Ireland
    • Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782) and Studio, Solitude - II, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

    Exhibitions

    • New Haven, Yale Center for British Art & Cardiff, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, 6 March - 29 October 2014

    Biographies

    • William Ellis (1747-1810)
    • Paul Mellon (1907-1999)
    • William Woollett (1735-1785)

    Documents

    • Martin Postle & Robin Simon, Richard Wilson and the Transformation of European Landscape Painting
    • Edward Edwards, Anecdotes of Painters who have resided or been born in England; with critical Remarks on their Productions
    • Louis Fagan, A Catalogue Raisonné of the engraved Works of William Woollett
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