Information

This is a sheet of hand studies for the painting 'Wycliffe reading his Translation of the Bible' (1848, oil on canvas, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford). The left study is for John of Gaunt's left hand and arm, which, in the painting, are held in an awkward position on his hip. The middle study is for his right hand which rests, almost in a fist, on his right thigh. The right study is for Gower's hands which are clasped together with forefingers pointing downwards. This sheet is a good example of Brown's economic use of paper, making all three drawings fit onto one sheet but the paper must be turned to find the correct position of the hands as they appear in the painting.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
London / F. M. Brown 1847
Signature and date bottom right Handwritten 1847 Brown ink.
 

Exhibitions

Catalogue No. Venue Date(s)
Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite
17 Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 2008-08-27 - 2008-12-14
 

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. 41
 
Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite
Laura MacCulloch, Tessa Sidey 2008 D. Giles Limited, London pp. 52, 70; repr. p. 45

Associated people

Name Type
John of Gaunt Associated with
John Gower Associated with

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