Handwritten Poem

Drawing details

Title: Handwritten Poem
Date: 1854-59
Media: Ink on white paper
Dimensions: 23.9 x 19.0 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/1139 p.2 verso
Inscriptions: In the hand of Adelaide Sartoris.

Interpretation

This is an early Heine poem written between 1823 & 1824 and included in a series of poems called 'Die Heimkehr', (The Homecoming). Leighton uses the title 'Morgengrub', (Morning Greeting). The poem is written in German, the translation runs: Over the mountains the sunbeams are rambling. The tinkle of lambs is heard far in the glen; My darling, my sunny-sweet, honey-sweet lambling If only one more I could see you again! I look up to her room, and sadly mutter: "Farewell, my child. I part from thee!" In vain! Not a sign, not a curtain flutter: She's lying asleep - and dreaming of me. (Translation by Herbert Draper 'The Complete Poems of Heinrich Heine' Oxford University Press, 1982)

Description

Sheet pasted into an album of drawings. A poem by Heine. 

Provenance

Collection of Adelaide Sartoris (ne+ Kemble, opera singer, writer and society hostess, 1814-1879); sold through the Maas Gallery (art dealers) in 1969; purchased by Leighton House Museum in 1969