Text of poem 'Merlin and Vivien' from 'Illustrations to Tennyson's Idylls of the King and Other Poems ', vol. 1
Photograph
1875 (printed)
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
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| Materials and techniques | Ink on paper |
| Brief description | Text of poem 'Merlin and Vivien' 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. |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Merlin and Vivien
........he was mute:
So dark a forethought rolled about his brain,
As on a dull day in an Ocean cave
The blind wave feeling round his long sea-hall
In silence: wherefore, when she lifted up
A face of sad appeal, and spake and said,
‘O Merlin, do ye love me?’ and again,
‘O Merlin, do ye love me?’ and once more,
‘Great Master, do ye love me?’ he was mute.
And lissome Vivien, holding by his heel,
Writhed toward him, slided up his knee and sat,
Behind his ankle twined her hollow feet
Together, curved an arm about his neck,
Clung like a snake; and letting her left hand
Droop from his mighty shoulder, as a leaf,
Made with her right a comb of pearl to part
The lists of such a board as youth gone out
Had left in ashes:
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. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | RPS.1092:20-2017 |
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| Record created | November 22, 2017 |
| Record URL |
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