Inscription surrounded by floral border: Grape Hyacinth: PD.8-1980.f.35

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Graphite

Components of the work

Support composed of paper
Leaf Height 326 mm Width 255 mm

Techniques used in production

Watercolour : Watercolour over graphite on paper

Inscription or legends present

• Text: 67
• Location: Recto, upper right
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: As once I wandered on Italian hills / In the sweet spring, the joyous budding-time, / Drinking the breath each little flower distils, / Wooed by warm kisses of that gracious clime, / I cam upon a patch of dark blue bells, / Bloomed like the grape, of rich and clinging scent, / A common simple flower, yet with it blent / Were odours of the past, and poetent spells / Of memory's breathing: I was rapt away / To an old garden, where, a child at play, / I let the unburdened hours flow lightly by, / Strown with these self-same blossoms: stay, oh, stay, / Dear visions of the morn, that cool the eye / Dazed with the hot glare of a midday sky. / E.D.S.
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: Why do ye weep, sweet babes? can tears / Speak grief in you, / Who were but born / Just as the modest morn / Teem'd her refreshing dew? / Alas! you have not known that shower / That mars a flower, / Nor felt th' unkind / Breath of a blasting wind, / Nor are ye worn with years, / Or warp'd as we, / Who think it strange to see / Such pretty flowers, like to orphans young, / To speak by tears before ye have a tongue. / Speak, whimp'ring younglings, and make known / The reason why / Ye droop and weep; / Is it for want of sleep? / Or childish lullaby? / Or that ye have not seen as yet / The violet? / Or brought a kiss / From that sweetheart to this? / No, no, this sorrow shown / By your tears shed / Would have this lecture read; / That things of greatest, so of meanest worth, / Conceiv'd with grief are, and with tears brought forth. / Herrick
• Location: Verso
• Method of creation: Watercolour

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.8-1980.f.35
Primary reference Number: 44098
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 3 August 2020 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints