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Woodland Pool |
Yesterday's views of Stonehenge included one by the English painter
William James Müller (1812-1845). This artist was routinely spoken of in his own lifetime as "the young genius" but died prematurely at the age of 33 and subsequently slipped from cultural memory.
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Tivoli |
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Somerset |
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The Avon |
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Waterside Houses |
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On the Nile |
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Venice |
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Parthenon |
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Eel Pots |
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Lycia |
I have read three conflicting explanations of M
üller's early death, none of which sounds very convincing. Without much elaboration, different writers assert that he died 1) of melancholia
– due to inadequate fame; 2) of lead poisoning
– from pigments; or 3) of some vague contagion
– brought home from a final Middle Eastern painting trip.
All compositions above are watercolors and all from collections at the
Tate.