The Prospect

Samuel Palmer (1805 - 1881)

Ashmolean Museum

1881

The scene, depicted at midday, illustrates lines 69-80 of John Milton's poem 'L'Allegro'. It belongs to a set of eight works illustrating Miltons' 'L'Allegro' and 'Il Penseroso', conceived as four pairs depicting the times of the day. Palmer always had a special affection for these poems. The scene, although imaginary, combines reminiscences of Shoreham, Naples and the Italian landscape in general. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

• Medium: watercolour & bodycolour on London board
• Dimensions: 50 x 79.4cm
• Art Fund Grant: £75000 ( Total: £245,000)
• ArtFunded in: 2005
• Vendor: Through Andrew Clayton-Payne Ltd

Provenance

Leonard Rowe Valpy; Fine Arts Society; Joan Glass; Mary Baldwin; through Didi Malek to a private collector, 2000.

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