Joseph Severn (1793-1879) portrait and
subject painter, was born in 1793.
During his earlier years he pratced
portraiture as a miniaturist; and,
having studied in the schools of the
[Royal Academy]
?, he exhibited his
first work in oil, Hermia and Helena, a
subject from the
Midsummer Night's
Dream, in the Royal Academy
Exhibition of 1819. In 1820, he gained
the gold medal and a three years'
travelling studentship for his Una and
the Red Cross Knight in the Cave of
Despair. He accompanied his friend
Keats the poet to Italy
and nursed him till his death in 1821.
In 1861 he was appointed British consul
at
Rome, a post which he held till 1872,
and during a great part of the time he
also acted as Italian consul. His most
remarkable work is the Spectre Ship from
the
Ancient Mariner. He painted
Cordelia Watching by the Bed of Lear,
the Roman Beggar, Ariel, the Fountain,
and Rienzi, executed a large altarpiece
for the church of St Paul at Rome, and
produced many portraits, including one
of
Baron Bunsen and several of Keats. He died at Rome August 3 1879.
Original text from a paper copy of the 9th edition EB
![[Home]](wikipedia.png)