Lot Essay
Joseph Severn is perhaps best known to history due to his friendship with John Keats. The pair met in 1816, probably through William Haslem, and soon formed a close friendship. When in 1820 it became clear that Keats had signed of tuberculosis, the disease that had killed his brother Tom, Severn was asked to accompany him to Rome in order for Keats to convalesce in a more favourable climate. After a terrible crossing the pair took up residence at 26 piazza di Spagna on 8th November 1820, and Severn remained with Keats faithfully until he died in Severn's arms on 23rd February 1821. It was another two years before Severn was able to erect at his own expense Keats's headstone with the famous epitaph that Keats had requested him to have inscribed: 'Here lies one whose name was writ in water'.
Severn continued to live in Rome, making a name for himself through his portrait painting, and in 1828 he married Elizabeth Montgomorie (d. 1862), the ward of Lady Westmorland, who had become Severn's patroness of sorts, although Lady Westmorland severed all ties with the couple after the wedding. The Severn family returned to London in 1841, although by 1861 Severn was elected as consul to Rome, a position he held until 1872, and he remained in Rome until his death in 1879. As a testimony to his friendship with Keats he was buried in the grave next to his.
In 1823 when picnicking with friends near Naples Severn narrowly escaped being shot by bandits, after he asked them to stop shooting at a marker knocked into one of the columns of the Temple of Neptune. They began hovering around, and after noticing their porter had disappeared Severn guided the ladies down to the boat they had come by. They heard the next day that two English travellers had been shot when travelling in the same area, and Severn felt great relief that they had escaped such a fate. The subject of brigands, however, held great fascination for Severn and his encounter inspired him to paint subjects such as this.
Severn continued to live in Rome, making a name for himself through his portrait painting, and in 1828 he married Elizabeth Montgomorie (d. 1862), the ward of Lady Westmorland, who had become Severn's patroness of sorts, although Lady Westmorland severed all ties with the couple after the wedding. The Severn family returned to London in 1841, although by 1861 Severn was elected as consul to Rome, a position he held until 1872, and he remained in Rome until his death in 1879. As a testimony to his friendship with Keats he was buried in the grave next to his.
In 1823 when picnicking with friends near Naples Severn narrowly escaped being shot by bandits, after he asked them to stop shooting at a marker knocked into one of the columns of the Temple of Neptune. They began hovering around, and after noticing their porter had disappeared Severn guided the ladies down to the boat they had come by. They heard the next day that two English travellers had been shot when travelling in the same area, and Severn felt great relief that they had escaped such a fate. The subject of brigands, however, held great fascination for Severn and his encounter inspired him to paint subjects such as this.