Confession by Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73). Source: “Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” (1875): 195. “Lent by Mr. John Fowler, Esq., C.E.” [Click on image to enlarge it.] Formatting and text by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Hathi Trust and the University of Michigan and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document, or cite it in a print one.]
Commentary in the Art-Journal
The engraving . . . is from a highly-finished drawing in pencil, which must have been executed when Landseer was comparatively young: what the story is that it is meant to illustrate, we have failed to discover; the scene undoubtedly is Swiss, and it has been suggested that Scott’s “Anne of Geierstein” would throw some light upon it, but there is nothing in that story which at all corresponds with what we have here; and yet we cannot suppose it to be a mere design of the artist’s fancy. But whatever is implied in the composition, it is very cleverly put together, and is so interesting in itself that one’s curiosity is excited to find out what Landseer intended in it. There is, by the way, some awkwardness of drawing in the legs of the monk, which are unquestionably far too long. [195-96]
Bibliography
“Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” Art-Journal (1875): 193-96. Hathi Trust version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 24 March 2014
Last modified 24 March 2014