George Richmond, R.A. (London 1809-1896)

Elijah at the mouth of the cave

Details

George Richmond, R.A. (London 1809-1896)
Elijah at the mouth of the cave
inscribed '-and after the Fire a still small voice/and : I was so when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his/mantle and went out stood in the entering in of the Cave-' (lower centre) and dated 'Dec^r 2ⁿ^d 1827' and 'Nov^r' (on the reverse)
pen and brown ink on paper, unframed
7 5/8 x 5½ in. (19.4 x 14 cm.)

Provenance

The artist's family and by descent.

Exhibited

London, Agnew's, Missing Pages. George Richmond R.A. 1809-1896, 2001, no. 2.
London, W/S Fine Art, Summer 2006, no. 47.
London, W/S Fine Art, Summer 2010, no. 23.

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Lot Essay

This drawing, with its flat, schematic design, clearly derives its composition from the model of Blake. It is one of a number of Biblical illustrations Richmond produced during 1827 and 1828. The reference is to I, Kings, chpt. IX, vv. 12-13, in which Elijah, after forty nights in the wilderness, takes shelter in a cave: 'a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle.'

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