Ford Madox Brown: Death of Sir Tristram, 1864

image courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust

Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893) was a British painter of moral and historical subjects, notable for his distinctively graphic and often Hogarthian version of the Pre-Raphaelite style. Though closely linked to them, he was never actually a member of the brotherhood itself, but adopted the bright colours and realistic style of William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais. Brown spent the latter years of his life painting the twelve works known as The Manchester Murals, depicting Mancunian history, for Manchester Town Hall.

The subject for this work was taken from the story of Sir Tristram and La Belle Iseult as told by Malory in the 'Morte d'Arthur.' The design was originally conceived in September 1862 for a stained glass window produced by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. The window was one of thirteen illustrating the story for the entrance hall of Harden Grange, near Bingley, the home of Walter Dunlop, a Bradford merchant. In 1863 Brown used the composition for a watercolour and in 1864 he produced this version in oil for George Rae.

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HC-1042: card size 6" x 6" (150mm x 150mm)