Richard Dadd, page 145 from Middle Eastern sketchbook; sketch of the entrance of the funerary complex of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun (1284-85), Cairo, Egypt

191 leaves of white paper, detached; original sketchbook presumed lost, entered the collection mounted in green morocco volume with lock in a black leather case

Acquired July 26 1892, from W. P. T. Phillips, a relation of Sir Thomas Phillips

This sketchbook was acquired by Sir Thomas Phillips from Richard Dadd's family, following his breakdown in August 1843. Phillips had engaged Dadd to join him on a tour of the Middle East, in order to visually record the journey. However, the artist’s dramatic decline in mental health precluded the completion of this arrangement. With some delicacy, Sir Thomas corresponded with the painter David Roberts (a close friend of Dadd’s father) who seems to have taken charge of matters concerning the artist’s Middle Eastern works. He expressed his wish to acquire the sketchbooks from the trip, along with the few completed artworks that Dadd had produced during the brief interval between his return to England and the murder of his father:

‘I will tell you how matters stand. Whilst abroad he made very few drawings but interested himself with collecting materials in his sketch books for works to be thereafter executed. Knowing his principles to be strictly honorable I never recurred to the arrangement between us but meant on our return to suggest to him that he should keep the sketches & furnish me with drawings. The circumstances under which he returned prevented my alluding to the subject but the same views appear to have occurred to him & he engaged himself in making drawings for me which I left with him. These I apprehend are not numerous & I should certainly now like to possess his sketch books as well as the drawings he has made & I have so apprised his brother who says that at present his rooms are locked up… Whatever arrangement may appear to you fair I would at once accede to. I estimate my payments for him at £250 or something more.'

Sir Thomas Phillips to David Roberts, 10 September 1843

The sketchbook was acquired for £30 by the Victoria and Albert Museum on 26 July 1892, from W. P. T. Phillips – presumably a relation of Sir Thomas, who died of paralysis on 26 May 1867. The leaves of the sketchbook had been detached from the original binding and mounted in a volume, fitted with a lock and supplied with a black leather cover.

D.234-1892