xt7qjq0stw34_5407 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474.dao.xml unknown archival material 1997ms474 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. W. Hugh Peal manuscript collection Benjamin Haydon letters, with clipping and manuscript excerpt from The Life of Haydon text 43.94 Cubic Feet 86 boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 22 items Poor-Good Peal accession no. 11453. Benjamin Haydon letters, with clipping and manuscript excerpt from The Life of Haydon 2017 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474/Box_62/Folder_74/Multipage28594.pdf [1821]-1841, undated 1841 [1821]-1841, undated section false xt7qjq0stw34_5407 xt7qjq0stw34 Haydon, Benjamin Robert, historical
painter, was born at Plymouth, where his father
was a bookseller, in 1786. He commenced his
studies at the Royal Academy in 1805. His
first picture was exhibited in 1807 ; the subject
of it ‘Joseph and Mary resting on the read to
Egypt.’ His second work, ‘Dcutatus,’ was ex-
hibited in 1809, and in the following year it
obtained the prize at the British Institution.
Ilis ‘Judgment of Solomon’ appeared next;
but during its progress his resources failed, and
the directors of the British Institution voted
hima present of 100 guincas. Previous to this
he had for some time devoted ten or twelve
hours a day to the study of the Elgin marbles,
and he went, accompanied by Wilkie, to Paris
in 1814, to study at the Louvre, and on his re-
turn continued his largest work, ‘ Christ entering
into Jerusalem.’ This picture was exhibited
in 1820, both in London and Edinburgh, but
found no purchaser, With all his acknow-
ledged powers, he disdained to follow the
more certain path to fame and fortune, be-
came embarrassed, and was several times im-
prisoned for debt. In 1827 he gave the following
melancholy account of the fate of his great
pictures :—‘ ~\Iy “Judgment of Solomon ” is
rolled up in a warehouse in the Borough! my
“Entry into Jerusalem,” once graced by the
enthusiasm of the rank and beauty of the three
kingdoms, is doubled up in a back room in
Helbornl my “ Lazurus ” is in an upholsterer’s
shop in Mount Street! and my “ Crucifixion "
is in a hay-left in Lisson Grove!’ Among his
successful pictures were his ‘Napoleen at St.
Helena,’ of which he painted twelve repetitions,
‘ \Vaiting for the Times’ and ‘ Puneh,’ new in
the National Gallery. An ardent admiration
of ancient art, and an equally ardent ambition
to attain its highest excellence, ever distin-
g‘uishcd him. The slightng of his cartoon by
the royal commission on occasion of the com-
petition for the decoration of the Palace at
\Vestminster, was the death-blew to his hopes.
He died by his own hand, June 22, 1846, aged
60; and was discovered lying on the floor of
his studio, immediately in front of a colossal
picture (Alfred the Great and the First British
Jury), on which he had just before been en-
gaged, his white hairs saturated with blood .’ It
was discovered that he had long suffered from
disease of the brain. The last sum of money
Haydon received was a present of £50 from
Sir R. Peel; whose generous interference in
behalf of his widow obtained from her ma-
jesty a pension of £50 a year from the civil
list; Lady Peel also assigned her a pension of
£25; and a. public subscription, which was
afterwards entered into for the benefit of Mrs.
Hayden and family, amounted to £2000. H ay~
don was author of ‘Thoughts on the relative
value of Fresco and Oil Painting’ (1842), and
‘ Lectures on Painting and Design ’ (1844-46).
The Life of this eminent painter was compiled
and edited by Mr. Tom Ta ler.

 

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