Information

The pairs of feet are for the central figure of Wycliffe in Brown's painting 'Wycliffe reading his Translation of the Bible to John of Gaunt, in the Presence of Chaucer and Gower' (1848, oil on canvas, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford). The legs are for the reclining figure of John of Gaunt who sits on the right. Brown's diary entry for 7 January 1848 most likely refers to this particular drawing. He records that 'Maitland came drew a study of his legs for John of Gaunt till ½ past 3, dined, called on my aunt. Maitland came at 6 drew at his feet for Wycliff till ½ past 8' (Virginia Surtees, ed., 'The Diary of Ford Madox Brown,' p. 24). Maitland was a professional model who was employed by several of the Pre-Raphaelites. The shadow behind the top pair of feet for Wycliffe attest to the late time of day Brown drew them, candlelight perhaps throwing a more severe shadow than the one which can be seen the final painting which is depicted in bright sunlight. Brown has signed and dated this drawing 1847 but this may well be a case of Brown back dating or indicates that he made additional studies in 1848.LM

  • Purchased and presented by subscribers, 1906.
  • © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Makers

Association Artist Organisation
Artist Ford Madox Brown -

Inscriptions

Type Position(s) Method Date(s) Notes
F M Brown/47
Signature and date bottom right Handwritten 1847 Some of the inscription may have been cut off. Brown ink.
 

Literature

Author(s) Date(s) Publisher Pages
City of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery: Catalogue of the Permanent Collection of Drawings
A E Whitley 1939 Bemrose & Sons Ltd, Derby p. 40
 
Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite
Laura MacCulloch, Tessa Sidey 2008 D. Giles Limited, London p. 70

Associated people

Name Type
John of Gaunt Associated with
John Wycliffe Associated with

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