Currently not on view
The Origin of Painting,
ca. 1775–80
George Romney, 1734–1802; born Dalton-in-Furness, United Kingdom; died Kendal, United Kingdom
formerly attributed to William Blake, 1757–1827; born and died London, England
formerly attributed to William Blake, 1757–1827; born and died London, England
x1947-28
Throughout his career as a fashionable portrait painter, Romney made thousands of drawings of literary and historical subjects, rendered with sweeping ink washes. The subject of this work derives from a legend, recorded by Pliny the Elder, of the Corinthian maiden Dibutade, who traced her sleeping lover’s shadow on the wall before his departure on a long journey—thereby creating an image to remember him by during his absence. This story, which was associated with the origins of the art of painting, became a popular theme with Romantic artists, particularly in England. Here, Romney created a lamplit nocturnal scene with the figures shown in strong profile in a manner reminiscent of Greek vase-painting and low-relief sculpture.
More About This Object
Information
Title
The Origin of Painting
Dates
ca. 1775–80
Maker
Medium
Pen and brown ink and grey wash
Dimensions
51.7 x 32.2 cm (20 3/8 x 12 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Frank Jewett Mather Jr.
Object Number
x1947-28
Inscription
in brown ink, on verso: No. 10
Culture
Type
Materials
Martin R. F. Butlin, Tate Gallery, April 1966: “I think by Romney.”;
From Pressly, “Fuseli Circle in Rome...”: circa 1775-1780. Romney.” (See reference Bib. 4450);
Kidson, May 2000, notes: “dated 1789 in a pencil inscription on verso but clearly late 70s.”;
formerly attributed to William Blake, 1757–1827; born and died London, England
The Corinthian Maid
- "Recent accessions," Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University 7, no. 1 (1948): p. 7., p. 7
- Richard Rosenblum, "The origin of painting: a problem in the iconography of romantic classicism", Art bulletin 39, no. 4 (Dec., 1957): p. 279-290.
- Nancy L. Pressly, The Fuseli circle in Rome: early romantic art of the 1770s, (New Haven, CT: Yale Center for British Art, 1979)., no. 129 (illus.)
- Princeton University Art Museum: Handbook of the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2007), p. 189 (illus.)
- Suzanne E. May, "Attempts towards Fame and Fortune: Joseph Wright of Derby and late-renaissance Humanism," in The British art journal 11 no. 1, (London: The British Art Journal, 2010): p. 41-52. , fig. 10, p. 47 (illus.)
- Princeton University Art Museum: Handbook of the Collections (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Art Museum, 2013), p. 411
