Inscription surrounded by floral border: Knapweed: PD.8-1980.f.20

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Graphite

Components of the work

Support composed of paper
Leaf Height 326 mm Width 255 mm

Techniques used in production

Watercolour : Watercolour over graphite on paper

Inscription or legends present

• Text: 37
• Location: Recto, upper right
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: Mute sheep that pull the grasses soft / Crop close and pass him by, / Until he stands alone, aloft / In surly majesty. / No fly so keen, no bee so bold, / To pierce that knotted zone, / He frowns as though he guarded gold, / And yet he garners none. / And so when autumn winds blow late, / And whirl the chilly wave, / He bows before the common fate, And drops beside his grave. / None ever owed him thanks or said / 'A gift of gracious heaven,' / Down in the mire he droops his head; / Forgotten, not forgiven. / Smile on, brave weed! let none inquire / What made or bade thee rise: / Toss thy tough fingers high and higher / To flout the drenching skies. / Let others toil for others' good, / And miss or mar their own; / Thou hast brave health and fortitude / To live and die alone. / A.C. Benson.
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: The cowslips tall her pensioners be; / In their gold coats spots you see; / Those be rubies, fairy favours, / In those freckles live their savours; / I must go seek some dewdrops here / And hang a perl in every cowslip's ear. / Shakespeare. / A Midsummer Night's / dream.
• Location: Verso
• Method of creation: Watercolour

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.8-1980.f.20
Primary reference Number: 44021
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 3 August 2020 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints