Not currently on display at the V&A

Text of poem 'Gareth and Lynette' from 'Illustrations to Tennyson's Idylls of the King and Other Poems ', vol. 1

Photograph
1875 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 1874, Julia Margaret Cameron's neighbor, and renowned poet, Alfred Tennyson suggested that Cameron create some illustrations for a new volume of his series of poems on Arthurian legends, "Idylls of the King." In the end, only three images were used, as woodcuts, but the full-size prints were later published in two volumes and were accompanied by excerpts from Tennyson's text and his signature. This is a page of text from volume one.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Text of poem 'Gareth and Lynette' from '<i>Illustrations to Tennyson's Idylls of the King and Other Poems </i>', vol. 1 (generic title)
  • Idylls of the King, and other poems, vol. 1 (series title)
Materials and techniques
Ink on paper
Brief description
Text of poem 'Gareth and Lynette' from 'Illustrations to Tennyson's Idylls of the King and Other Poems ', vol. 1, 1875, illustrated with photographs by Julia Margaret Cameron
Physical description
Printed page of poem text in book of poems with photographic illustrations.
Dimensions
  • Book cover height: 445cm
  • Book cover width: 348mm
  • Page height: 430mm
  • Page width: 330mm
Marks and inscriptions
'Gareth and Lynette And then when turning to Lynette he told The tale of Gareth, petulantly she said, ‘Ay well—ay well—for worse than being fooled Of others, is to fool one’s self. A cave, Sir Lancelot, is hard by, with meats and drinks And forage for the horse, and flint for fire. But all about it flies a honeysuckle. Seek, till we find.’ And when they sought and found, Sir Gareth drank and ate, and all his life Past into sleep; on whom the maiden gazed. ‘Sound sleep be thine! sound cause to sleep hast thou. Wake lusty! Seem I not as tender to him As any mother? Ay, but such a one As all day long hath rated at her child, And vext his day, but blesses him asleep— Good lord, how sweetly smells the honeysuckle In the hushed night, as if the world were one Of utter peace, and love, and gentleness! A Tennyson'
Credit line
The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.
Associations
Literary reference'Illustrations to Tennyson's Idylls of the King, and other poems', vol. 1', by Julia Margaret Cameron. London: Henry S. King & Co., 1875.
Summary
In 1874, Julia Margaret Cameron's neighbor, and renowned poet, Alfred Tennyson suggested that Cameron create some illustrations for a new volume of his series of poems on Arthurian legends, "Idylls of the King." In the end, only three images were used, as woodcuts, but the full-size prints were later published in two volumes and were accompanied by excerpts from Tennyson's text and his signature. This is a page of text from volume one.
Associated objects
Other numbers
  • XRP104 - RPS collection - V&A identifier
  • 2317/1 - Royal Photographic Society number
Collection
Accession number
RPS.1092:17-2017

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Record createdNovember 22, 2017
Record URL
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