DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61252#0109
THE QUEEN’S GALLERY.
65
the departure of JEneas, Dido mounts the funeral pile,
* and after stabbing herself with his sword, dies in the arms
of her sister Anna. (JEneid, b. iv.)
“ Through all the town the dismal rumour spread.—■
Her sister hears, and, furious with despair,
She beats her breast, and tears her yellow hair.
‘Bring water—bathe the wound, while I in death
Lay close my lips to hers, and catch the flying breath.’
Thrice Dido tried to raise her drooping head-
Thrice op’d her heavy eyes, and saw the light; -
But having found it, sicken’d at the sight,
And clos’d her lids at last in endless night.
Then Juno, grieving that she should sustain
A death so ling’ring, and so full of pain,
Sent Iris down, to free her from the strife
Of labouring nature, and dissolve her life.
Downward the various goddess took her flight,
And drew a thousand colours from the light.”
This picture was exhibited in the year 1781. It was
among the pictures sold by auction after the death of Sir
Joshua, and bought by his niece, the late Marchioness of
Thomond, for 200Z. On the sale of her pictures in 1821,
it was purchased for George IV.
C. 4 ft. 9 in. by 7 ft. 9 in.
179 Cymon and Iphigenia.—Figures, life-size. From 2
Boccacio’s tale, versified by Dryden. The idiot and clown,
Cymon, sees for the first time Iphigenia asleep, and is sud-
denly inspired, by the power of new-born love, with gen-
tleness, generosity, and the wish to overcome his own
deficiencies.
Of all the subjects which romantic poetry has offered to
the painter, this is one of the most beautiful, and affords
the finest material in the way of form, character, colour,
and accessories: it is very beautifully treated in this picture,
which was presented to George IV. by the Marchioness
of Thomond, niece to the painter.
C. 4 ft. 7 in. by 5 ft. 7 in.
65
the departure of JEneas, Dido mounts the funeral pile,
* and after stabbing herself with his sword, dies in the arms
of her sister Anna. (JEneid, b. iv.)
“ Through all the town the dismal rumour spread.—■
Her sister hears, and, furious with despair,
She beats her breast, and tears her yellow hair.
‘Bring water—bathe the wound, while I in death
Lay close my lips to hers, and catch the flying breath.’
Thrice Dido tried to raise her drooping head-
Thrice op’d her heavy eyes, and saw the light; -
But having found it, sicken’d at the sight,
And clos’d her lids at last in endless night.
Then Juno, grieving that she should sustain
A death so ling’ring, and so full of pain,
Sent Iris down, to free her from the strife
Of labouring nature, and dissolve her life.
Downward the various goddess took her flight,
And drew a thousand colours from the light.”
This picture was exhibited in the year 1781. It was
among the pictures sold by auction after the death of Sir
Joshua, and bought by his niece, the late Marchioness of
Thomond, for 200Z. On the sale of her pictures in 1821,
it was purchased for George IV.
C. 4 ft. 9 in. by 7 ft. 9 in.
179 Cymon and Iphigenia.—Figures, life-size. From 2
Boccacio’s tale, versified by Dryden. The idiot and clown,
Cymon, sees for the first time Iphigenia asleep, and is sud-
denly inspired, by the power of new-born love, with gen-
tleness, generosity, and the wish to overcome his own
deficiencies.
Of all the subjects which romantic poetry has offered to
the painter, this is one of the most beautiful, and affords
the finest material in the way of form, character, colour,
and accessories: it is very beautifully treated in this picture,
which was presented to George IV. by the Marchioness
of Thomond, niece to the painter.
C. 4 ft. 7 in. by 5 ft. 7 in.