ford madox brown - eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

This is a detailed study of the face and right hand of the Bishop on the right in The Spirit
of Justice. A drapery study for the same Bishop is on the reverse of a drawing for one of
the apostles from Brown’s cartoon of The Ascension (cat. no. 10). This reveals Brown’s
economical working process of using both sides of the paper and suggests that he was
working on the two competition entries at the same time. The drapery study depicts a
figure in the same pose, holding a book and staff, and resting his chin on his right hand,
but in a monk’s costume. Perhaps later on Brown thought this symbol of Catholicism
would not be looked upon favourably in a design for the staunchly Protestant House of
Lords. Another drapery study for the bishop on the left of Justice is also on the reverse of
a study for an apostle (cat. no. 9).
Cat. no. 138 The Spirit of Justice: Study for the uplifted left Arm of Justice, 1844 - 45
Black
chalk; 448 x 320 mm
Lit.: Whitley, p. 27; Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite, p. 69
Prov.: Harold Hartley
Presented by Harold Hartley, 1905 (1905P17)
This is an anatomical study for the bulging, uplifted left arm of the figure of Justice
and
reveals that Brown must
have found this unsual pose particularly difficult to depict.
Justice is blind and strains to listen cupping her
ear to hear the case. Her left ear can be
seen
between the thumb and forefinger in this study.
Cat. no. 139 The Spirit of Justice: Study for Head of Counsellor in a Coronet, 1844 - 45
Black chalk with touches of blue chalk; 455 x 315 mm
Lit.: Whitley, p 27; Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite, p. 69
Exh.: Pre-Raphaelite Drawings, Midlands Federation Travelling Exhibition, 1961
(no cat.); Visions (5)
Prov.:
Harold Hartley
Presented by Harold Hartley, 1905 (1905P21)
Cat. no. 140 The Spirit of Justice: Study for Head of Counsellor, 1844 - 45
Black chalk; 424
x 306 mm
Lit.:
Whitley,
p. 27; Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite, p. 69
Prov.: Harold Hartley
Presented
by Harold Hartley, 1905 (1905P20)
Cat. no. 141 The Spirit of Justice: Drapery Study for central Bishop, 1844 - 45
Verso: Part of a Drapery Study,
1844 - 45
Black chalk; 263 x 229 mm
Insc.
in pencil br.: FMB 1843
Lit.: Whitley, p. 27; Ford Madox Brown: The Unofficial Pre-Raphaelite, p. 69
Prov.: Harold Hartley
Presented by Harold Hartley, 1905 (1905P16)
This is one of two studies in the collection for the bishop in the centre of the composition
(see also cat. no. 136). It shares the same pose of the figure in the finished cartoon but in
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