Terms and conditions of use
Green-robed senators
(c. 1880)
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of Alfred Felton, 1904
- Gallery location
- 19th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Artists of the Victorian era were particularly sensitive to the spiritual power of the landscape. As such they were in synch with the Romantic poets who were inspired likewise to capture similar sentiments in prose. Occasionally artists borrowed directly from poets to provide a lyrical context for their paintings. Halswelle clearly knew Keats’ epic poem Hyperion…
Those green-robed senators of mighty woods,
Tall oaks, branch-charmed by the earnest stars,
Dream, and so dream all night without a stir.
John Keats, Hyperion 1818–19
Artwork Details
Bequest of Alfred Felton, 1904
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Level 2, NGV International
[1] Loaned by Wilson to the NGV for the duration of his on holiday to Europe. See ‘Art notes’ in the Leader, Melbourne, Saturday 11 December 1897, p. 5, Accessed: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197307941, and also ‘Notes and notices’, in The Australasian, Melbourne, 4 December 1897, p. 35, Accessed: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138631264
[2] The W. R. Wilson estate sale was reported in the newspapers, with mention of a catalogue, however no copy has been found. See ‘Town Talk’ in Geelong Advertiser, Geelong, Thursday 7 February 1901, p. 2, Accessed: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147712614 and ‘Town Talk’ in Geelong Advertiser, Geelong, Friday 8 February 1901, p. 2, Accessed: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147712685.