Early History Paintings

William Bell Scott began his career as a history painter. Before Dante Gabriel Rossetti introduced him to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Scott painted in the style of Daniel Maclise (1806-1870). Scott participated in the 1843 competition for the decoration of the new Palace of Westminster. Like Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893), Scott represents the connection between history painting of the 1840s and the new pre-Raphaelite style.

Scott’s major paintings before his turn to pre-Raphaelitism include:

1. Chaucer with His Friend and Patron, John of Gaunt (Royal Academy 1842, no. 1218)

Oil on canvas, 26 x 35 inches. Source: Christie’s

2. King Arthur Carried to the Land of Enchantment (Royal Academy 1847, no. 1184)

Oil on canvas, 34 x 45 inches. Source: Christie’s

Scott wrote a poem on this picture, “I Go To Be Cured at Avilion.”

3. The Trial of Sir William Wallace (Royal Academy 1851, no. 681)

Oil on canvas, 54 x 73 inches. Source: Corporation of the City of London, Guildhall Art Gallery

Some of Scott’s other work from this period has survived in the form of engravings.

1. The Old English Ballad Singer (British Institution 1842, no. 115)

Engraving by W. J. Linton from oil painting by Scott, published in The Book of British Ballads, ed. S. C. Hall (London: Jeremiah How, 1842), vol. 1. Source: Google Books

2. The Free North Britons Surprising the Roman Wall Between the Tyne and the Solway (Westminster Hall 1843, no. 86)

Engraving from cartoon by Scott published in the Illustrated London News (August 12, 1843). Source: Google Books

3. Saxon Alms-Giving (Art-Union 1846, no. 2)

Engraving by H. C. Shenton from cartoon by Scott published in Seven Designs in Outline Illustrative of British History (Art-Union of London, 1847). Source: British Museum