Inscription surrounded by floral border: Ivy: PD.8-1980.f.25

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: 47
• Location: Recto, upper right
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: O a dainty plant is the Ivy green, / That crepeth o'er ruins old! / On right choice food are his meals. I ween, / In his cell so lone and cold. / The wall must be crumbled, the stone decayed / To pleasure his dainty whim; / And the mouldering dust that years have made / Is a merry meal for him. / Creeping where no life is seen, / A rare old plant is the Ivy green. / Fast he steals on, though he wears no wings, / And a staunch old heart has he; / How closely he twineth, how close he clings / To his friend the huge Oak Tree! / And slily he traileth along the ground, / And his leaves he gently waves, / As he joyously hugs and crawleth round / The rich mould of dead men's graves. / Creeping where grim Death has been / A rare old plant is the Ivy green.
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Watercolour

• Text: Whole ages have fled, and their works decayed, / And nations have scattered been; / But the stout old Ivy shall never fade/ From its hale and hearty green. / The brave old plant in its lonely days / Shall fatten on the past; / For the stateliest building man can raise / Is the Ivy's food at last. / Creeping on where Time has been, A rare old plant is the Ivy green. / C. Dickens / ....Violets dim, / But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes / Or Cytherea's breath: / Shakespeare / Winter's Tale.
• Location: Verso
• Method of creation: Watercolour

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.8-1980.f.25
Primary reference Number: 44028
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