Sterne's 'Sentimental Journey' - Yorick (Laurence Sterne) and Maria walking1842 Accession number: 1906P796 Pen and ink, watercolour and bodycolour on paper. Width: 439 mm Height: 561 mm InformationThis is one of two works in the collection based on the eighteenth century novel 'A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy By Mr Yorick,' by Laurence Sterne (1713-1768). Between them the two drawings illustrate the chapters concerning the popular character Maria Moulines. The first drawing (1906P797) depicts Maria's mother talking to the protagonist, Yorick, and his manservant La Fleur. She has moved La Fleur to tears by telling the two men of the sad plight of her daughter, Maria, who has taken to wandering aimlessly after the death of her father. The second more finished watercolour depicts the following scene in which Yorick has found Maria and together they towards the town of Moulines. This watercolour has previously been known as 'Sterne and Maria.' Although it depicts the character Yorick the author Laurence Sterne identified himself with his creation and by the mid-nineteenth century was virtually synymous with him. Acording to Hilary Parsons Brown used an engraving of Sterne by C. F. Fritschuis as the basis of Yorick's head, revealing how closely connected the two figures were in popular culture (unpublished notes on Birmingham's collection of works on paper by Brown, BMAG).LM At the start of his career Brown made several drawings of subjects from popular eighteenth-century novels such as 'The Vicar of Wakefield' by John Goldsmith. This is one of two drawings of scenes from 'Sentimental Journey' by Laurence Sterne. Neither drawing was worked up into a painting.
Makers
Inscriptions
Exhibitions
Literature
Associated people
Related work & resourcesDiscuss this workStart a discussion about this work.You need to login to discuss this work. Click here to login. If you are not yet registered click here to become a member. |