Mr Yorick and Maria ('A Sentimental Journey' by Laurence Sterne)
after Thomas Stothard (London 1755 - London 1834)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1798 - 1899
Materials
Oil on canvas (circular)
Measurements
288 mm (11 1/4 in) (Diameter)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Westwood Manor, Wiltshire
NT 222676
Caption
This circular painting shows an episode from Laurence Sterne's A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy (1768): “She was dress'd in white, and much as my friend had described her, except that her hair hung loose, which before was twisted within a silk net. She had, superadded likewise to her jacket, a pale green ribband, which fell across her shoulder to the waist; at the end of which hung her pipe. Her goat had been as faithless as her lover; and she had got a little dog in lieu of him, which she had kept tied by a string to her girdle. As I look'd at her dog, she drew him towards her with the string. 'Thou shalt not leave me, Sylvio,' said she. I look'd in Maria's eyes, and saw she was thinking more of her father than of her lover or her little goat; for as she utter'd them, the tears trickled down her cheeks." It is after the engraving by W. Shelton, published in 20th October 1798 (& used in vol. II of the 1808 edition).
Summary
Oil painting on canvas (circular), Mr Yorick and Maria ('A Sentimental Journey' by Laurence Sterne), after Thomas Stothard (London 1755 – London 1834), 19th century. A circular painting after an engraving by W. Skelton/Shelton, published 20th October 1798 (& used in vol. II of the 1808 edition, opp. p. 436, printed by Luke Hansard & Sons) of Laurence Sterne's A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy (1768): "When we had got within half a league of Moulines, at a little opening in the road leading to a thicket, I discovered poor Maria sitting under a poplar – she was sitting with her elbow in her lap, and her head leaning on one side within her hand – a small brook ran at the foot of the tree. I bid the postillion go on with the chaise to Moulines – and La Fleur to bespeak my supper – and that I would walk after him. She was dress'd in white, and much as my friend had described her, except that her hair hung loose, which before was twisted within a silk net. – She had, superadded likewise to her jacket, a pale green ribband, which fell across her shoulder to the waist; at the end of which hung her pipe. – Her goat had been as faithless as her lover; and she had got a little dog in lieu of him, which she had kept tied by a string to her girdle: as I look'd at her dog, she drew him towards her with the string. – 'Thou shalt not leave me, Sylvio,' said she. I look'd in Maria's eyes, and saw she was thinking more of her father than of her lover or her little goat; for as she utter'd them, the tears trickled down her cheeks."
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust by Edgar Graham Lister (1873 – 1956) with the house and collection of furniture in 1956.
Credit line
Westwood Manor, The Lister Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: Thomas Stothard (in ink on stretcher)
Makers and roles
after Thomas Stothard (London 1755 - London 1834), artist