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Not currently on display at the V&A

Sabrina

Oil Painting
ca. 1821 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The subject of this painting is taken from the masque Comus by John Milton (1608-1674). Sabrina features in the masque as a water nymph on the river Severn. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy London in 1821, accompanied by the quotation;
'That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream'
and
'... the nymphs that nightly dance
Upon thy streams with wily glance'


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleSabrina (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Oil on canvas
Brief description
Oil on canvas by Henry Howard entitled 'Sabrina' (Milton 'Comus'). Great Britain, ca. 1821.
Physical description
Oil on canvas; showing nymphs dancing on a stream, with two swans to the bottom right. On a throne to the left of the composition sits Sabrina, the water nymph of the River Severn.
Dimensions
  • Estimate height: 45in
  • Estimate width: 56.5in
Dimensions taken from Summary catalogue of British Paintings, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1973
Style
Credit line
Given by Sir W. Tite
Object history
Given by Sir W. Tite
Subjects depicted
Literary reference<i> Comus</i> by John Milton
Summary
The subject of this painting is taken from the masque Comus by John Milton (1608-1674). Sabrina features in the masque as a water nymph on the river Severn. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy London in 1821, accompanied by the quotation;
'That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream'
and
'... the nymphs that nightly dance
Upon thy streams with wily glance'
Collection
Accession number
FA.245[O]

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Record createdApril 25, 2006
Record URL
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