NOW AVAILABLE
CLICK TO ORDER
THE EVE OF ST. AGNES (1896) Portraits of John Keats (October 31, 1795 - February 23, 1821)
This collection of drawings and paintings of John Keats are those that predate Frank Lloyd Wright’s "Eve of St, Agnes", 1896.
Keats first met artist Benjamin Robert Haydon on October 31, 1816. Although not an official portrait of Keats, Haydon sketched a profile in November, for incorporating into a large picture he was painting entitled "Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem". A month later Haydon created a life mask of Keats, leaving with us nearly a photographic image of John Keats.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Joseph Severn, for his friendship, support and artistic skill. John Keats first surviving poem was "An Imitation of Spenser" which he wrote in 1814 at the age of nineteen. He studied medicine, but his passion was poetry. In May 1816, Leigh Hunt agreed to publish Keats' sonnet "O Solitude" in his magazine "The Examiner", a leading magazine of the day. Keats was deeply inspired by Leigh Hunt's work. It was the first appearance of Keats' poems in print. Although not the first Keats sketch of record, Severn first sketched a portrait of John Keats in 1817, when Keats was approximately 22 years old. Severn captured Keats youth, intensity, and fervor, a poet on the edge of greatness.
In March 1817, "Poems" was published, the first volume of Keats' verse. Critically it was rejected, but Leigh Hunt, undaunted, proceeded to publish the essay "Three Young Poets" (Shelley, Keats and Reynolds). Hunt also introduced him to other publishers and writers, which helped established Keats reputation as a leading poet.
Three years after his first sketch, Severn painted a miniature oil of Keats at the age of 24, before the onset of his fatal illness. This was the only portrait of Keats painted during his lifetime, becoming the foundation for all other portraits and drawings of Keats. Severn repeated the miniature several times, the first of which he sat for. This portrait was engraved many times as the frontispiece of numerous volumes.
In 1819, Charles Armitage Brown, Keats closest friend, began a sketch of Keats. In a letter Brown wrote to Severn dated February 23, 1825, he alludes to a sketch he left with a friend to finish after his departure. There is no indication of the outcome, but may explain the unfinished nature of the clothing in this sketch.
After Keats' death, Severn began a oil painting of Keats. "...On the morning of my visit to Hampstead (1819) I found him sitting with the two chairs, as I have painted him. After this time he lost his cheerfulness, and I never saw him like himself again..." It took him two years to complete the painting.
During that time, 1822, William Hilton, a friend of Keats, painted a portrait from memory, and after Joseph Severn’s portrait of Keats.
In 1841, a chalk drawing by William Hilton was published in 1841, but possibly drawn about 1819-20 according to Sharp.
Joseph Severn painted two additional portraits of Keats, painted posthumously from his memory of Keats. "Keats Listening to a Nightingale on Hampstead Heath" 1845, and "Variation of John Keats at Wentworth Place" in 1859.
Parson's "Portraits of Keats", 1954 is an invaluable resource for studying the Portraits of John Keats.Study (Haydon) 1816 Life Mask 1816 Charcoal Sketch (Severn) 1816 Portrait of John Keats (Severn) 1819 Sketch (Brown) 1819 Sketch (Wass) 1819-20 Keats on His Death Bed (Severn) 1821 Portrait of John Keats (Severn) 1821 Portrait of John Keats (Hilton) 1822 Keats Listening to a Nightingale on Hampstead Heath Head of Keats 1846 Portrait of John Keats (Severn) 1859 Portrait of John Keats (Severn) 1860 Portrait of John Keats (Newton) Lost Portrait John Keats (Jameson) Circa 189x John Keats (Neatby) 1909 Keats Home (Haslehurst) 1909
Study of John Keats, (Haydon) November 1816 (K1) Title: Study of John Keats Date: November 1816 (Original)
Artist: Haydon, Benjamin Robert
Description: Keats first met artist Benjamin Robert Haydon on October 31, 1816. Although not an official portrait of Keats, Haydon sketched a profile in November, for incorporating into a large picture he was painting entitled "Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem". According to Sharp, "Haydon drew this sketch of his young friend and admirer at this date (November, 1816). This sketch was made in Haydon’s manuscript journal, and has been admirably reproduced in Mr. Buxton Forman’s library edition of Keats (Volume III, page 44). It was probably made between November 20 and 30, for we know that Keats’s beautiful and enthusiastic sonnet to Haydon... was written on November 19-20, immediately after his first meeting with the famous painter; while in Haydon’s manuscript journal for November is this sketch, with, below it, in Haydon’s handwriting, ‘John Keats by B. R. Hayton.’ There is an interesting note at the bottom of the folio page, also in Haydon’s writing: ‘Keats was a spirit that in passing over the earth came within its attraction and expired in fruitless struggles to make its dull inhabitants comprehend the beauty of his soarings.’ This fine profile head was a sketch for the portrait of Keats introduced by Haydon into his large picture of ‘Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem’, now in St. Peter’s Cathedral at Cincinnati. This portrait appears to have been considered an excellent likeness by Armitage Brown and others." From "The Portraits of Keats", The Century, February 1906, page 536-537.
Reproduced in "Keats in Hampstead", The Century, October 1895, page 907.
Reproduced in "The Portraits of Keats", The Century, February 1906, page 538. (S#0018.22)(Left) Reproduced in "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats", Keats, Forman, 1883, Volume III, page 44.
Also reproduced in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 538.
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 8, page 27.
Life Mask of John Keats, (Haydon) December 1816 (K2) Title: Life Mask of John Keats Date: December 1816
Artist: Haydon, Benjamin Robert
Description: Keats first met artist Benjamin Robert Haydon on October 31, 1816. A month after sketching a profile in November, for incorporating into a large picture he was painting entitled "Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem", he created a life mask of Keats, leaving with us nearly a photographic image of John Keats.
(Left) Reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 1, page 4. Courtesy of the Keats Museum, London; and Methuen & Co., London.
Title: John Keats Date: Reproduced in 1883
Artist: I. F. Sabin
Description: Caption: "From the Life Mask by Haydon 1818". Engraving of the right profile of Haydon's Life Mask. (Left) Reproduced in "The Letter and Poems of John Keats". Published by Dodd, Mean & Company, New York, 1883. Volume II.
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 14, page 34.
Title: Profile View of the Life Mask of John Keats, by Haydon Date: 1895
Artist: T. Johnson
Description: Keats first met artist Benjamin Robert Haydon on October 31, 1816. A month after sketching a profile in November, 1816, for incorporating into a large picture he was painting entitled "Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem", he created a life mask of Keats, leaving with us nearly a photographic image of John Keats. Engraving first published in "The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine" - February 1884, by The Century Co., New York.
Also published in "The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine" - October 1895, by The Century Co., New York.
Title: Variations, The Life Mask John Keats. Study of the "Life Mask of John Keats" by Benjamin Robert Haydon. Etching, Drawing, Embossed Relief, Watercolor. (Published by Douglas M. Steiner, Edmonds, WA) Date: 2012
Artist: Steiner, Douglas M. after Haydon, Benjamin Robert
Description: Keats first met artist Benjamin Robert Haydon on October 31, 1816. A month after sketching a profile in November, for incorporating into a large picture he was painting entitled "Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem", he created a life mask of John Keats. Photograph reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 1, page 4. Courtesy of the Keats Museum, London; and Methuen & Co., London. #1/50. (First Edition)
Size: 24 x 32
ST# 2012.01.0112
Charcoal Sketch of John Keats, (Severn) 1817 (K3) Title: Charcoal Sketch of John Keats Date: 1817
Artist: Joseph Severn (1786-1839), close friend and artist.
Description: This is the earliest known portrait of John Keats. Severn illustrates his impression of Keats as a friend, and also portrays his impression of Keats as he "first came as a poet into his kingdom of youth and romance". Severn captured Keats youth, intensity, and fervor, a poet on the edge of greatness.
This charcoal was first reproduced and published, in an engraving by Henry Meyer, in Leigh Hunt’s volume entitled "Lord Byron and Some of His Contemporaries", published by Henry Colburn, London, 1928, page 246.
According to Forman, this sketch was "done in England in the presence of Shelley..." (Poetical Works, 1883, VI, page xxxvii). Forman writes, "The charcoal sketch (seen on the left) which forms the frontispiece to Volume III of this edition was the earliest of Severn’s drawings of Keats from the life. It was engraved as long ago as 1828 for Leigh Hunt’s "Lord Byron and Some of His Contemporaries"... I was glad of the opportunity to give a facsimile by the photo-intaglio process from the original drawing... I have had it printed on paper like that of the original; and if the oval were surrounded by a mount instead of an engraved line and plate-mark, it would need an expert to discover that he had not the original drawing before him." From: "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats", Keats, Forman, 1883, Volume I, page xxxiv. (S#0001.26)Left: Frontispiece, "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats", 1883, Volume III.
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 16, page 40.
Title: After a charcoal sketch of John Keats by Joseph Severn (K3A) Date: Adapted in 1831 and 1940
Artist: Portraits by G.B. Ellis. Ornaments by W.H. Ellis.
Description: "The Poetical Works of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats" was published in 1831. An elaborate three-tiered engraving frames the three poets with Victorian friezes. The portrait of Keats was adapted from a charcoal sketch of John Keats by Joseph Severn. The portrait of Keats was engraved by G.B. Ellis. The border ornaments were engraved by W.H. Ellis. "The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman and Keats" was published in 1840.
Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of Coleridge, Shelley, and Keats", 1831, Published by Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., Philadelphia.
Left: Frontispiece, "The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman and Keats", 1840. Published by Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., Philadelphia.
Left: Frontispiece, "The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman and Keats", 1841. Published by Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., Philadelphia.
Title: John Keats (K3B) Date: Reproduced 1883
Artist: "After the sketch by Severn 1818" (caption).
Description: (Left) After a Charcoal Drawing by Joseph Severn. Reproduced in "The Letter and Poems of John Keats". Published by Dodd, Mean & Company, New York, 1883. Volume III.
Title: Portrait of Keats. (K3C) Date: Reproduced 1895
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: (Left) Facsimile of a Charcoal Drawing by Joseph Severn. Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, 1895. Volume II, page 354.
Also reproduced in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 536.
Portrait of John Keats (Severn), 1819 (K4) Title: Portrait of John Keats Date: 1819
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: Oil on ivory, 3.125 x 4.25. Painted while Keats was writing his "Odes" and before the onset of his fatal illness. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London. According to William Sharp, an authority on portraits of Keats, not only were forgeries available of this portrait, but Severn repeated this miniature several times, the first of which he sat for (Century, p547). This may account for the slight variations of the etchings below.
This was the only portrait of Keats painted during Keats lifetime, becoming the foundation for all other portraits and drawings of Keats. "The most important of the portraits is unquestionably the miniature painted by Severn and exhibited at the Royal academy in 1819. This Severn repeated several times; and Sir Charles Dilke has had no less than three examples of the miniature, of which he still possesses two. The first, that for which Keats actually sat, was given by the poet to Danny Brawne before his departure for Italy, and eventually passed into the hands of Sir Charles Dilke's grandfather." From "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats", Forman forward, 1883, Volume I, page xxxiii.Also reproduced as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 541. Caption: "Half tone plate engraved by H. Davidson. The Standard Portrait of Keats by Joseph Severn. From a photograph of the original, the only one of the miniatures done from life by Severn. It was painted for Fanny Brawne."
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 22, page 52.
Title: Miniature of John Keats (K4A) Date: 1833
Artist: Maud M. Roberts (1793 - 1879), after Joseph Severn
Description: Watercolor. A copy of Joseph Severn's portrait miniature of John Keats, after the miniature in the National Portrait Gallery, painted by Maud M. Roberts, at the Keats House, Hampstead, London.
According to William Sharp, an authority on portraits of Keats, not only were forgeries available of this portrait, but Severn repeated this miniature several times, the first of which he sat for. "The Century Magazine" page 547. Copies of originals were also available, like this one. This may account for the slight variations of the etchings below.Also reproduced as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 544. Caption: "By permission of George D Smith. Now owned by George C Thomas. Half tone plate engraved by H. Davidson. Water color portrait of Keats by Severn painted for George Keats the poet's brother. This portrait was in the possession of George Keats in Louisville Kentucky till his death and through his daughter descended to his grandson John Gilmer Speed. It was reproduced in color in Mr. Speed's edition of Keats. (Dodd Mead & Co., 1883) Size 6.25 x 7.25 inches."
Title: Portrait of Keats. (After Joseph Severn, 1819) (K4B) Date: Reproduced 1848
Artist: Engraved by Leslie Traver. (Possibly Leslie & Traver).
Description: (Left) Reproduced in "Life, letters, and literary remains, of John Keats", Edited by Richard Monckton Milnes. Published by George P. Putnam, New York, Frontispiece. (1848) (S#0001.50)
Also reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". With a Memoir by James Russell Lowell. With Illustrations. Published by R. Worthington, New York, Frontispiece. (Circa 1880) (S#0001.37)
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 30, page 62.
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K4C) Date: 1854
Artist: George Scharf. (After Joseph Severn, 1819)
Description: Portrait of John Keats. Similar to the engraving by Robinson, but slight variations. Reproduced with a facsimile signature in "The Poetical Works of John Keats. With a Life." Published by Little, Brown and Company, Boston. Evans and Dickerson, New York. Lippincott, Grambo and Co., Philadelphia. 1854 and 1863. (S#0001.35)
Also reproduced with a facsimile signature in "The Poetical Works of John Keats. With a Memoir." Published by James Miller, New York. 1867. (S#0000.11)
Also reproduced with a facsimile signature in "The Poetical Works of John Keats. With a Memoir." Published by Ticknor and Fields Boston. 1867. (S#0001.55)
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K4D) Date: 1854
Artist: After Joseph Severn 1819, Engraving by H. Robinson
Description: (Left) Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Edward Moxon, Dover Street, London, 1854, (frontispiece).
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K4E) Date: Dated 1868.
Artist: After Joseph Severn 1819, Engraving by H. Robinson
Description: (Left) Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by E. Moxon and Co., I, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London, 1876, page ii (frontispiece). First published in 1868 by Edward Moxon, Dover Street, London. (S#0001.53)
Also published in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Houghton, Mifflin & Company, Boston and New York. Printed by The Riverside Press, Cambridge. 1900.
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K4F) Date: 1873
Artist: The frontispiece is an engraved portrait by G.J. Anderton after a portrait by Severn.
Description: (Left) Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by James Miller, New York, 1873, page (frontispiece).
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K4G) Date: 1877
Artist: H. S.
Description: Portrait of Keats is an engraving of the miniature portrait of John Keats after Severn’s copy for George Keats by H. S. Initials are in the bottom right. Etched portrait from an old sketch by Joe Severn. According to Parson (p59), this portrait was first published in 1877.
Published in Eve of St. Agnes and other poems, circa 1910.
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K4H) Date: Reproduced 1884
Artist: Joseph Severn, etched by W. B. Scott
Description: (Left) Portrait of Keats by Joseph Severn, etched by W. B. Scott from a Miniature in the possession of the Editor, Harry Buxton Forman. Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Given From His Own Editions and Other Authentic Sources and Collated With Many Manuscripts. Edited by Harry Buxton Forman. Published by Reeves & Turner, London, 1884, Frontispiece. (S#0001.27)
Also reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Given From His Own Editions and Other Authentic Sources and Collated With Many Manuscripts. Edited by Harry Buxton Forman. Published by Reeves & Turner, London, 1898, Frontispiece. (S#0032.11)
Title: "Portrait of Keats. By Joseph Severn, From a Miniature." (1819) (K4I) Date: Reproduced 1895
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, 1895. Volume I, Frontispiece. It looks to be a cellotype or photogravure. (S#0018.09)
Reproduced in "The Complete Poetical Works of John Keats with Notes and Appendices by H. Buxton Forman". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, 1895, Frontispiece. It looks to be a cellotype or photogravure. (S#0018.25)
Also reproduced in "The Eve of St. Agnes". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Co., New York. Not dated, Circa 1900, Frontispiece. (S#0041.04)
Title: Portrait of Keats. (After Joseph Severn, 1819) (K4J) Date: Reproduced 1895
Artist: Illustrator not identified.
Description: Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1895. Volume I, Frontispiece. It is a halftone dot pattern. (S#0018.13)
Title: John Keats (After Joseph Severn, 1819) (K4K) Date: 1899
Artist: Lister (?)
Description: The Frontispiece is a portrait of John Keats printed in four colors, light and medium grey, and black imprinted on a solid "varnished" background. The engraving is signed "Lister" (?). Published in "Endymion And Other Poems" by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia.
Title: John Keats (After Joseph Severn, 1819) (K4L)
Date: Published in 1899
Artist: John Andrew and Son
Description: Note: (p.xiii) "The frontispiece is a photogravure by John Andrew and Son from a painting made by Joseph Severn in his old age after the picture painted by him in his youth. The painting was in the possession of the late John W. Field, Esq., and is now the property of Williams College, by whose courtesy this copy was made." Also includes a facsimile signature of John Keats.
Published in "The Complete Poetical Works And Letters of John Keats." Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco. Printed by the Riverside Press, Cambridge. Boards covered in green cloth.
Title: Portrait Portrait of Keats, painted from life by Joseph Severn Date: 1908
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: Published in "Odes, Sonnets, and Lyrics." Published by The Century Co., New York. Printed by The De Vinne Press.
Sketch of John Keats, (Brown) 1819 (K5) Title: John Keats Date: 1919
Artist: Charles Armitage Brown (1786-1842)
Description: Pencil sketch drawn from life in 1819, 9 x 8.5. Charles Armitage Brown was Keats closest friend, and was also friends with Severn and Hunt. He wrote a biography entitled "The Life of John Keats", which was not published until 1937. He was so distraught over Keats death that it took him twenty years to complete. In 1840 Brown sent his manuscript to Monckton Milnes who incorporated it into his biography in 1848. In a letter Brown wrote to Severn dated February 23, 1825, he alludes to a sketch he left with a friend to finish after his departure. There is no indication of the outcome, but may explain the unfinished nature of the clothing in this sketch.
Given by the artist's granddaughter, Mona M. Brown to the National Portrait Gallery in 1922. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 63, page 108.
Portrait of John Keats (Wass), Circa 1819-1820 (K6) Title: John Keats, Died at Rome in 1821, Aged 25. Date: Hilton portrait drawn in 1819-1820 (1819 or 1820 according to Parson, possibly drawn about 1819-20 according to Sharp)
Artist: Charles Wentworth Wass (1817-1905), after William Hilton (1786-1839).
Description: According to Parson, this portrait was drawn from life by Hilton at the home or office of John Taylor in 1819 or 1820, 3" x 4.75. The last known owner of the original chalk drawing was John Taylor, 1841 (in 1954).
(Left - 1841) "John Keats. Died at Rome in 1821 Aged 25. From a Portrait in Chalk by Wm. Hilton, R.A. Engraved by Charles Wass. Published by Taylor & Walton, Upper Gower St. London, 1841." First published in "The Poetical Works of John Keats", by Taylor and Walton, 28, Upper Gower Street, London. Of note is that the frontispiece (left) is dated 1841. The title page (facing page right) is dated MDCCCXL (1840).
"The chalk drawing by Hilton, was published by Messrs, Taylor and Walton of Upper Gower Street in 1841. It was unquestionably done from life; and it is possible that Hilton may have done other life sketches of Keats, whom he was in the habit of meeting at the house of their mutual friend john Taylor, Keats’s publisher." From "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats", Forman forward, 1883, Volume I, page xxxiv.
According to Sharp, "What is of much more interest is Hilton’s fine, if too precise, chalk drawing of Keats (made about 1819-20, in all likelihood). This was engraved by Charles Wass, and published by Messrs. Taylor and Walton of Upper Gower street, in 1841; and now familiar as the frontispiece to Volume II of Mr. Buxton Forman’s edition. Possibly some day a (presumably) good early likeness of Keats of this Hilton-sketch period may be found." William sharp, The Century, February 1906, page 545.Left: "John Keats. Died at Rome in 1821 Aged 25. From a Portrait in Chalk by Wm. Hilton, R.A. Engraved by Charles Wass. Published by Taylor & Walton, Upper Gower St. London, 1841." First published in "The Poetical Works of John Keats", by Taylor and Walton, 28, Upper Gower Street, London. Of note is that the frontispiece (left) is dated 1841. The title page (facing page right) is dated MDCCCXL (1840). (S#0001.31)
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 55, page 96.
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K6A) Date: Reproduced 1840
Artist: William Hilton
Description: Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats", Published by Taylor and Walton, 28, Upper Gower Street, London, 1840, Frontispiece, 1940.
(Left) "Portrait of John Keats, From a Chalk Drawing by William Hilton, R.A. Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, 1895. Volume II, Frontispiece. (S#0018.10)
Also reproduced in the "Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by E. Moxon, Son, & Co. London, 1872, Frontispiece.
Also reproduced in "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats", Keats, Forman, 1883, Volume II, Frontispiece. "Portrait of Keats: engraved by C. Wass from a chalk drawing by William Hilton R.A."
Title: John Keats (1796-1820) (K6B) Date: 1896
Artist: Oscar Edward Grosch
Description: Engraving of John Keats after Hilton’s chalk drawing. Signed in the bottom right hand corner by O. Grosch. Oscar Edward Grosch (1863-1928) was an American artist, painter and engraver who emigrated with his wife to Staten Island, NY from Germany in 1889. His work is held by the Smithsonian and the Brooklyn Museum. Keats is facing to the left, white shirt collar, wearing a coat with a full fur collar. Very similar view to the engraving by F. Croll (Parson p97), but with a full fur collar and dark background. Published as the Frontispiece in "Poems by John Keats", Edited, With Introduction and Notes by Arlo Bates. Published as part of the Atbenaeum Press Series, by Ginn & Company, Boston, New York, Chicago, London.
Also published in 1898 as a plate in volume 14 of the 18 volume set. Plate is published in "The American Dictionary and Cyclopedia" by Dictionary and Cyclopedia Co., New York and Chicago. Also published in: "The Imperial Reference Library" by Syndicate Publishing Company. Philadelphia. 1898 in six volumes.
Also reproduced in the "Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Hurst & Company, New York, circa 1900, Frontispiece.
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K6C) Date: 1898
Artist: The artist not identified, possibly by P. Kramer after Hilton’s chalk drawing.
Description: Published in "The International Library of Famous Literature". The set included over 500 full page illustrations, one of which was this portrait of John Keats in volume 14. In 1819 or 1820, William Hilton drew a chalk drawing, of John Keats, sketched from life. Hilton was a close friend of Keats publisher John Taylor. Hilton’s chalk drawing was lost, but not before Charles Wass engraved it for the frontispiece of "The Poetical Works of John Keats", 1941, published by Taylor and Walton. It was engraved and elaborated upon by F. Croll {Parson p97}, and by P. Kramer in 1913 (Parson p98). This unidentified illustration is very similar to, and possibly by P. Kramer. Printed with a halftone dot pattern at the Norwood Press, J. S. Cushing & Co., Berwick & Smith, Norwood Mass U.S.A.
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K6D)
Date: Circa 1900
Artist: Unidentified but very similar to, and possibly by P. Kramer.
Description: Photogravure portrait of John Keats. Artist not identified, possibly by P. Kramer after Hilton’s chalk drawing. In 1819 or 1820, William Hilton drew a chalk drawing, of John Keats, sketched from life. Hilton was a close friend of Keats publisher John Taylor. Hilton’s chalk drawing was lost, but not before Charles Wass engraved it for the frontispiece of "The Poetical Works of John Keats", 1941, published by Taylor and Walton. It was engraved and elaborated upon by F. Croll (Parson p97), and by P. Kramer in 1913 (Parson p97). Published in "Ode to a Nightingale. La Belle Dame Sans Merci", Frontispiece. Published by Johnson, Hickborn and Company, Ltd., London.
Right: Portrait of John Keats, published in The Mentor Magazine, December 15, 1913, by The Mentor Association, Inc. Illustration by P. Kramer. Portrait of John Keats after Hilton’s chalk drawing. Portrait only, published two sides. Face: Intaglio-gravure portrait of John Keats. Artist not identified, but signature above left shoulder: "P. Kramer." Verso: "John Keats, a genius whose life was ended almost before it began, but whose poetry will live forever, is the subject of one of the intaglio-gravure pictures illustrating ‘Famous English Poets.’ " Includes a biography of Keats. Included in the December 15, 1913 issue of The Mentor.
John Keats on His Death Bed, 1821 (K7) Title: John Keats on His Death Bed Date: 1821 (Reproduced 1913)
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: Joseph Severn's last sketch, this portrait of Keats was drawn in Indian ink on January 28, 1821 at 3:00 am. A close friend of Keats, the inscription read, "28 January 3 o’clock morng. Drawn to keep me awake - a deadly sweat was on him all this night." Three weeks later on Friday, February 23, 1821, John Keats past away around 11:00 pm. On February 27, Severn wrote to Charles Brown, of Keats’ death. "He is gone--he died with the most perfect ease--he seemed to go to sleep. On the 23rd, about 4, the approaches of death came on. "Severn-I--lift me up--I am dying--I shall die easy--don't be frightened--be firm, and thank God it has come!" I lifted him up in my arms. The phlegm seemed boiling in his throat, and increased until 11, when he gradually sunk into death--so quiet-that I still thought he slept. I cannot say now-I am broken down from four nights' watching, and no sleep since, and my poor Keats gone. Three days since, the body was opened; the lungs were completely gone. The Doctors could not conceive by what means he had lived these two months. I followed his poor body to the grave on Monday, with many English. They take such care of me here--that I must, else, have gone into a fever. I am better now--but still quite disabled."
Left: "Portrait of Keats, after the original Sepia Drawing by Joseph Severn presented to the Keats-Shelley Memorial by Mrs. Eleanor Furneaux. "Bulletin and Review of the Keats-Shelley Memorial, Rome", No. 2, 1913, Next to page 58.
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 32, page 65.
Title: Portrait of Keats on His Death Bed, From a Drawing by Joseph Severn. Date: Reproduced 1895
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: Reproduced in "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats", Keats, Forman, 1883, Volume IV, Frontispiece. "Portrait of Keats on his death-bed: etched by W. B. Scott from a drawing by Joseph Severn."
Also reproduced in "The Letter and Poems of John Keats". Published by Dodd, Mean & Company, New York, 1883, Volume II, page xxvi.
(Left) Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, 1895. Volume II, page 590. (S#0018.10)
Also reproduced as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 545. Caption: "Engraved by T. Cole."
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 36, page 70.
Portrait of John Keats (Severn), 1821 (K8) Title: John Keats at Wentworth Place Date: 1821 (Dated by National Portrait Gallery)
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: Oil on canvas, 16.5 x 22.25. According to Forman, the painting is signed and dated "J. Severn, Rome 1823". Forman continues, A letter written by Mr. Severn December 22, 1858 contains the following particulars: "... On the morning of my visit to Hampstead (1819) I found him sitting with the two chairs, as I have painted him. After this time he lost his cheerfulness, and I never saw him like himself again..." The discrepancy between the statement "Painted at Rome in 1821", and the evidence of the signature "J. Severn, Rome 1823", is presumably to be reconciled by the supposition that this picture... was not finished till 1823, though already begun in summer of 1821." From: "The Poetical Works and Other Writings of John Keats" Forman, 1883, Vol. 1, p xxxix. Given to the National Portrait Gallery by S. Smith Travers in 1859. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Also reproduced as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 546. Caption: "Keats at Wentworth Place Hampstead. Painted in Rome from memory by Joseph Severn 1821-23. Now in the National Portrait Gallery. First photographed for Kenyon West in August 1894 by special permission and first published in her article 'Keats in Hampstead' in The Century for October 1895."
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 38 and 39, page 73 and 74.
Portrait of John Keats (Hilton), 1822 (K9) Title: John Keats, After Joseph Severn. Date: Circa 1822
Artist: William Hilton, R.A. (1786-1839)
Description: Oil on canvas, 25 x 30. A friend of Keats, painted from memory, and after Joseph Severn’s portrait of Keats from 1819. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Also reproduced as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 546. Caption: "Half tone plate engraved by H. Davidson."
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 58, page 99.
Title: John Keats. (By Joseph Severn, from a miniature) (K9A) Date: Reproduced 1895
Artist: Illustrator not identified.
Description: "John Keats. (By Joseph Severn, from a miniature)". Photogravure portrait. The text is printed on a tissue over the illustration and is actually miss represented. It is actually an illustration of William Hilton’s portrait of John Keats after Joseph Severn’s miniature. Reproduced in "The Complete Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1895, Frontispiece. (S#0018.08)
Also reproduced in "The Complete Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1895, Frontispiece. (S#0018.37)
Reproduced in "The Complete Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, Circa 1915, Frontispiece. (S#0128.10)
Title: John Keats (Photo by Emory Walker) (K9B) Date: Reproduced Circa 1908
Artist: Emory Walker (Photographer)
Description: "John Keats". Photogravure of William Hilton’s portrait of John Keats after Joseph Severn’s miniature. Reproduced in "The Eve of St Agnes, And other Poems". Published by George G. Harrap & Co., London, Circa 1908. (S#0085.28)
Title: John Keats (K9C) Date: Reproduced 1895
Artist: Mr. S. H. Llewellyn
Description: An etching after a painting by Wm. Hilton, R.A., based on a miniature by Joseph Severn. Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats", Frontispiece. Edited By William T. Arnold. Published by Kegan Paul, Trench, & Co., London, 1894. "The portrait prefixed to this edition is an etching by Mr. S. H. Llewellyn, after a painting by Wm. Hilton, R.A., based on a miniature by Joseph Severn." From page lvi. (S#0001.49)
Also reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1895, Frontispiece. (S#0018.21)
Also reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1895, Frontispiece. (S#0018.11)
Also reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Published by Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1895, Frontispiece. (S#0018.11 0018.06, 0018.27)
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 59, page 100, but according to Parson the engraver was unknown.
Title: Portrait of John Keats (K9D) Date: Circa 1912
Artist: Photograph of Painting by William Hilton
Description: Frontispiece is a half tone photograph of a portrait of John Keats.
Published in The Poetical Works of John Keats. Published by Collins’ Clear-Type Press, London & Glasgow. Printed in Great Britain
Title: Keats (K9E) Date: Reproduced 1923
Artist: Possibly sighed “C P”, lower left hand corner of portrait.
Description: Frontispiece is a wood block portrait of John Keats, Possibly a variation of the “Portrait of John Keats After Joseph Severn by William Hilton”. There is a similarity when the portrait is flipped horizontally. Published in "John Keats. Selected & Edited by Henry Newbolt," Thomas Nelson, 1923.
Also published in "Poems of John Keats. Selected and edited by Henry Newbolt". Part of the “Popular Classics of the World”. This volume is undated. Rockefeller Plaza opened in 1933, so this would have been published after that date. Most likely the late 30s or early 40s. Published by Caxton House, Inc., Rockefeller Plaza, New York.
Portrait of John Keats (Severn), 1845 (K10) Title: Keats Listening to a Nightingale on Hampstead Heath Date: 1845
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: Oil on canvas, 38 x 45". Painted posthumously from his memory of Keats. Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1951. Now hangs in Keats House, London. Courtesy of the City of London Corporation.
Also reproduced as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 550. This painting had remained unpublished until this article. Caption: "Photographed by Hollyer. Half-tone plate engraved by H. Davidson. 'Keats and the Nightingale'. Unpublished painting by Joseph Severn, owned by Nigel Severn Esq."
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 44, page 81.
Drawing of John Keats (Scharf), 1846 (K11)
From an intaglio from it in the collection of the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, Bart, M.P. Published as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 544. Date: Published in 1846 and 1854
Artist: Illustration drawn on wood by George Scharf. Engraved by Thompson.
Description: (Left) Reproduced in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Illustrated by 120 Designs, Original and From the Antique, Drawn on Wood by George Scharf, Jun., F.S.A., F.R.S.L. Published by Edward Moxon, Dover Street, London. Bradbury and Evans, (1846), 1854.
Reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 85, page 153. (Left)
Reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 84, page 152. (Right)
Portrait of John Keats (Severn), 1859 (K12) Title: Variation of John Keats at Wentworth Place Date: 1859
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: (Left) Severn painted a variation of "John Keats at Wentworth Place" which became known as the "Houghton-Crewe " variant. Reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 40, page 75.
Title: Detail of "Variation of John Keats at Wentworth Place" (K12A) Date: 1859
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: A posthumous oil painting by Joseph Severn in the possession of the Marquis of Crewe, K.G. (in 1917). Color image published as , the frontispiece (plate 1) in "John Keats, His Life and Poetry, His Friends Critics and After-Fame", written by Sidney Colvin. Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. First edition, 1917, published by MacMillan and Co., Limited, St. Martin's Street, London, third edition, 1920. Colvin indicates that this portrait was painted by Severn in 1859 (preface, page xi).
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 42, page 78.
Title: Etching of John Keats (K12B) Date: First published in 1876
Artist: C. H. Jeens, adapted from a portrait by Joseph Severn
Description: Reproduced as the frontispiece in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Chronologically arranged and edited, with a memoir, by Lord Houghton (Richard Monckton Milnes), 1892. First published in 1876. Published by George Bell & Sons, London. (S#0013.01)
Title: Etching of John Keats (K12C) Date: First published in 1882
Artist: By Andrew-Sc adapted from a portrait by Joseph Severn
Description: Reproduced as the frontispiece in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Chronologically arranged and edited, with a memoir, by Lord Houghton (Richard Monckton Milnes), 1882. First published in 1882. Published by Roberts Brothers, Boston. (S#0000.07)
Also reproduced as the frontispiece in "The Poetical Works of John Keats". Chronologically arranged and edited, with a memoir, by Lord Houghton (Richard Monckton Milnes), 1882. First published in 1882. Published by Roberts Brothers, Boston.
Portrait of John Keats (Severn), 1860 (K13) Title: Portrait of John Keats Date: 1860
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: (Left) Portrait drawing of John Keats drawn in 1860. Part of the Harvard University Keats Memorial Collection in 1954. Reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 51, page 90. Courtesy of Harvard University.
Portrait of John Keats (Newton), (K14) Title: Portrait of John Keats Date: Not dated
Artist: Attributed to Mary Newton
Description: (Left) Portrait of John Keats, attributed to Mary Newton, daughter of Joseph Severn, in the possession of Severn's grandson, Colonel Claude N. Fureaux in 1954. Reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 79, page 147. Courtesy of Colonel Claude N. Furneaux.
Lost Portrait of John Keats (Severn), (K15) Title: Portrait of John Keats Date: 1893
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: (Left) Published as a photogravure in The Eve of St. Agnes and Sonnets. Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York and London.
Title: The "Lost Portrait" of Keats Date: Unknown
Artist: Joseph Severn
Description: (Left) Published as a half tone in "The Century Magazine", February 1906. Published monthly by The Century Co, New York. By William Sharp. Page 548. "From a print published by John Slark and owned by Nigel Severn, Esq." Caption: "Half-tone plate engraved by H. Davidson." From page 549, "As to the interesting drawing here reproduced (so far as I know for the first time since its issue at an unknown date by John Slark), I can give few details. The original by Severn has disappeared. The portrait appears to be a reminiscent one of Keats, in a new pose, probably intended as a study for a picture or for inclusion in Severn's projected "Adonais" volume. I have seen no copy but that among the Severn manuscripts now lent by Mr. Nigel Severn for reproduction. It appears to have been published by John Slark, of 12 Busby Place, Camden Road, London, whom now I cannot trace."
Also reproduced in "Portraits of Keats", Parson, 1954. Published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, New York. Plate 48, page 87. Original watercolor (10" x 6") in the possession of Severn's grandson, the Rev. Hew F. Severn (in 1954).
Portrait of John Keats (Jameson), (K16) Title: John Keats Date: Circa 189x
Artist: M. Jameson
Description: (Left) Reproduced in color as the frontispiece in "The Eve of St. Agnes". Published by Henry Frowde, London. Printed by Horace Hart, Oxford, Printer to the University. The portrait on the Frontispiece is not signed, but there are two additional illustrations signed by M. Jameson. The front end paper lining is a color illustration entitled "Isabella or the Pot of Basil". The back end paper lining is a color illustration entitled "The Eve of St. Agnes". Henry Frowde became manager of the Oxford University Press in 1880, and retired in 1913. Horace Hart was appointed as Controller of the Oxford University Press in 1884 and worked there until his death in 1915. Little can be found about Jameson. There was an artist M. Jameson born in 1861.
Very similar and may be drawn after Joseph Severn's circa 1816 sketch of John Keats.
Portrait of John Keats (Sullivan), (K17) Title: John Keats Date: Circa 1904
Artist: Edmund J. Sullivan
Description: (Left) Photogravure reproduced as the frontispiece in "The Poems of John Keats." Published by Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. Ltd., London. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh. First published in 1902 by George Newnes Ltd (London) and Scribner’s Sons (New York).
Portrait of John Keats (Neatby), (K18) Title: John Keats Date: 1909
Artist: Attributed to William James Neatby
Description: (Left) Reproduced on the cover of "A Day with John Keats", May Byron, 1909. Published by Hodder & Stoughton, New York. Printed by Percy Lund, Humphries & Co., Ltd., Bradford and London. The cover portrait of John Keats is attributed to William James Neatby, with an additional five painting within the volume, identified as Neatby's, each related to one of Keats’ poems.
William James Neatby (1860-1910) was born on 24th May 1860. In 1884 he went to work for Burmantofts Potteries in Leeds designing decorative, architectural pieces of ceramics and also designing their catalogues. In 1890, he worked for Doulton and Co., on public and private commissions including relief panels for the New Physical Observatory at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the Winter Gardens Blackpool, and the Everard Building, Bristol. In 1901 he left Doulton to broaden his experience but still acted as an independent designer for Doulton and Co. He joined forces with E. Hollyer Evans to form the firm Neatby, Evans and Co. They were involved in the design of stained glass, textiles, furniture, metalwork and anything related to interior decoration, including wallpaper for Jeffrey and Co. As an artist, which Neatby considered himself to be, he executed mural work and in particular book illustration mainly for Hodder and Stoughton. He worked with the Norwich based architect George Skipper (1856-1948) on a number of mural designs. He suffering a heart attack in April 1910. The architect Ernest Runz, said in his obituary: “He was a true artist, and a man of fine character, and he pursued his art with a direct and single purpose”. Extracted from an article by Dr. Alastair Scott Anderson.
Painting of John Keats (Haslehust), (K19) Title: "Keats’ Home in Hampstead" Date: 1909
Artist: Ernest William Haslehust
Description: (Left) Frontispiece: Painting by E. W. Haslehust. "Keats’ Home in Hampstead," reproduced in "A Day with John Keats", May Byron, 1909. "About eight o'clock one morning in early summer, a young man may be seen sauntering to and fro in the garden at Wentworth Place... The clean countrified air of Hampstead comes with sweet freshness through the garden." Published by Hodder & Stoughton, New York. Printed by Percy Lund, Humphries & Co., Ltd., Bradford and London.
Ernest William Haslehust (1866 - 1949) was an English landscape painter and book illustrator. He was born in England, and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London under Alphonse Legros. He was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA), Royal West of England Academy (RWA), Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), and the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists (RBC). He was an illustrator for the series of travel books, "Beautiful England".
