Sir Philip Sidney's Oak

Place of Origin

Penshurst Park (painted)

Date

1820-1830 (painted)

Artist/maker

Nasmyth, Patrick, born 1787 - died 1831 (painters (artists))

Materials and Techniques

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

Height: 16 in estimate, Width: 21 in estimate, Height: 65.2 cm frame, Width: 76.4 cm frame

Object history note

Given by John Sheepshanks, 1857
Provenance : This painting was lent to the Royal Society of British Artists in 1834/5 by the Rev. Robt. Fennell (no.73)

Descriptive line

Oil painting, 'Landscape: Sir Philip Sidney's Oak', Patrick Nasmyth

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

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.

Exhibition History

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)

Labels and date

47. Patrick Nasmyth (1787-1831)
Sir Philip Sidney's Oak
Oil on canvas, 40.6 x 53.3 cm (16 x 21 ins)

The large oak tree on the left of the picture was supposed to have been planted in Penshurst Park in 1554. Large and ancient trees often became landmarks of historical and legendary events. This particular tree eventually became a memorial to the famous poet and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney. His family lived at Penshurst, Kent and the oak tree is said to have been planted to mark his birth there in 1554 (although in fact it is much older.) As a young man, he became one of the courtiers surrounding Queen Elizabeth I. There he made his reputation as a poet, writing a series of sonnets, poems, and a romance on the theme of love. His death in battle in 1586 occasioned much mourning in England as the Queen and her subjects grieved for the man who had come to exemplify the ideal courtier. It is said that Londoners cried out at his funeral "Farewell, the worthiest knight that lived." Nasmyth's painting of the oak reflects the growing fascination with romantic national heroes that increased steadily through the 19th century.

Given by John Sheepshanks, 1857 (FA165) [2002]

Materials

Oil paint; Canvas

Techniques

Oil painting

Subjects depicted

Landscape; Tree, Oak

Categories

Paintings

Collection code

PDP