Revelatory letters and Royal painting join Fitzwilliam

Two major new acquisitions have joined the Fitzwilliam’s collections; letters written by the artist Samuel Palmer in his final years and the first Royal portrait by Spanish court painter Vicente López to enter a UK Museum.

The new acquisitions are now on display in the Fitzwilliam’s permanent collection, which ranges from antiquities to contemporary art, on the eve of its bicentenary in 2016.

The 47 handwritten letters by Samuel Palmer comprise over 200 pages. They span over 16 years, the last one shortly before the artist’s death, and give a new impression of his personality in later years: far from being melancholy, they show an extraordinary zest for life.

Samuel Palmer (1805-1881) is now acknowledged as one of the most innovative and influential British artists of the nineteenth century, but his last twenty years are often portrayed as a time of quiet reclusion in the aftermath of his elder son’s death, described by Palmer as ‘the catastrophe of my life’.

The letters challenge this view, showing the artist found ways to cope with his intense grief, and still had a great passion for work, a sense of self-effacing humour, and that his a deep seriousness was tempered always by a love of the absurd. They are signed S. Palmer, Samuel Palmer, Nogo, Mr Fearing, Vanity of Vanities, A good-for-nothing-little-baby-scamp who is ashamed to sign his name; one includes a small sketch. The letters are peppered with capitals, elaborate lettering, exclamation marks, crossing outs and postscripts. They touch on a wide range of subjects including religion, the ‘dearly-longed for’ Blake Exhibition of 1876, music, a visit to Coleridge's house in Highgate, loneliness, and poetry; and contain a wide range of meditations on art, life and philosophy. The purchase has been funded by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

The Royal portrait from 1829-30 of Maria Isabel de Borbón, Queen of the Two Sicilies by Spanish court painter Vicente López y Portaña (1772 -1850) is the first painting by the artist to enter a public collection in the UK. López is recognised as one of the most technically accomplished of all portrait painters of the period.

This portrait depicts the matronly Queen of the Two Sicilies, also known as the Kingdom of Naples. She is awash with blue velvet and fine lace, wearing an impressive set of diamonds and sapphires. The portrait of the fifty-seven year old Queen is touchingly honest, the asymmetry of her face, discolorations of skin, tired eyes, reddened hands, double chin and hint of a smile, all rendered with the same meticulous care as her lace, diamonds, and virtuoso crumpled kid glove.

The painting has been acquired with support of the Art Fund, the Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum and other generous private donors.

Tim Knox, Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum commented:

"We are absolutely delighted to announce these two major acquisitions on the eve of our bicentenary in 2016. Our collections have constantly been growing over the past 200 years and we are committed to displaying works that have a strong research and learning focus, and offer something new and fascinating to our visitors. We would like to thank the Art Fund for their generous support of the López acquisition, the first work by this artist to join a public collection in the UK. Our thanks also goes to the Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum, made up of individuals whose subscriptions go towards acquiring works of art for the Museum - meaning anyone who joins becomes an art collector."

Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: "We are so pleased to support the acquisition of this remarkable portrait by a rare artist. It is a striking addition to the Fitzwilliam’s collection of European paintings, and will enrich their Spanish and early nineteenth century holdings. We wish the Fitzwilliam all the best for their bicentenary in 2016 and are delighted to be part of the celebration through making this grant."

7 September 2015