William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) was a founder member of the group of artists known as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. After they disbanded in the 1850s Hunt was the only member to continue to pursue the concept of 'truth to nature' that had been the central aim of the brotherhood. At the end of 1865 Hunt married Fanny Waugh, and they embarked on a tour. They went first to Egypt, but Fanny was already pregnant and by the time they reached Florence, Italy, on their return home it was clear that they would have to remain there for some time. Although the birth was a difficult one, a son survived. Fanny, however, died of fever at the end of 1866. Hunt returned to London the following September, having designed his wife's tomb and painted this view of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence - the city in which the couple had spent such a happy, if brief, time.
Physical description
The year after his marriage to Fanny Waugh at the end of 1865, Hunt embarked with her on a tour of the East, beginning in Egypt. But Fanny was pregnant, and by the time they reached Florence it was clear they would have to remain there for some time. Although the birth was difficult, a son survived; Fanny however died of a fever at the end of 1866. Hunt returned to London the following September, having designed his wife's tomb and painted the view of the Ponte Vecchio in the city where the couple had spent such a happy if brief time. The bridge has a special significance in European literature, as it was where the great Dante had first seen his beloved Beatrice; she too died within a year, and it may be the reason for Hunt painting this uncharacteristic work. It certainly has a deeply melancholic mood. Hunt must have also remembered Elizabeth Siddal, who died after a short marriage to Rossetti; having the first name of Dante, Rossetti compared himself to the Italian poet and saw Lizzie as his Beatrice, painting her several times in that role.
Currently in gilt fame.
Place of Origin
Florence, Italy (made)
Date
1867 (painted)
Artist/maker
Holman Hunt, born 1827 - died 1910 (artist)
Materials and Techniques
Watercolour
Dimensions
Height: 510 mm frame, Width: 795 mm frame, Depth: 38 mm frame
Object history note
Reproduced in Holman Hunt's 'Pre-Raphaelit Brotherhood', ii, facing p.120; in the 'Architectural Review', April 1925, p.134; and as an official picture postcard.
Descriptive line
Watercolour, The Ponte Vecchio, by Holman Hunt
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Mikael Ahlund, ed, including an essay by Martin Barnes, The Pre-Raphaelites Stockholm: Nationalmuseum, 2009. ISBN: 978-91-7100-809-1.
Exhibition catalogue
Colin Harrison, Christopher Newall and Claudio Spadoni, i Preraffaelliti. il sogno del'400 italiano da Beato Angelico a Perugino da Rossetti a Burne-Jones Milano: Silvana Editorale Spa, Cinisello Balsamo, 2010.
Exhibition catalogue
Vikutoria & Arub?to Bijutsukan-z? : eikoku romanshugi kaigaten = The Romantic tradition in British painting, 1800-1950 : masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum / selected by Mark Evans [Japan : Brain Trust], 2002. 185 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm.
Colin Harrison, Christopher Newall and Claudio Spadoni, The Pre-Raalites and Italy Oxford: Ashmolean, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-85444-250-5.
Exhibition catalogue
Exhibition History
Pre-Raphaelites and Italy (Ashmolean Museum 15/09/2010-05/12/2010)
Pre-Raphaelites and Italy (Museo d'Arte della citta di Ravenna 27/02/2010-06/06/2010)
The Pre-Raphaelites: Dream and Reality in 19th Century Britain (Nationalmuseum, Stockholm 26/02/2009-24/05/2009)
88A (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/09/2005-31/03/2006)
Pre- Raphaelite Vision (CaixaForum, Barcelona 28/09/2004-09/01/2005)
Pre- Raphaelite Vision (Altes Museum (Berlin) 16/06/2004-05/09/2004)
Pre- Raphaelite Vision (Tate 12/02/2004-03/05/2004)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Prefectural Museum of Art, Hyogo, Kobe, Japan 28/01/2003-06/04/2003)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Koriyama City Museum of Art 22/11/2002-27/12/2002)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Matsuzakaya Museum, Nagoya, Japan 19/10/2002-11/11/2002)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan 24/08/2002-06/10/2002)
? (01/01/2000-31/12/2000)
Subjects depicted
Bridges (built works); Florence; Night
Categories
Drawings; Paintings
Collection code
PDP
