Emily Bronte

Emily Bronte, the author of Wuthering Heights, died on December 19, 1848.  Walter Scott’s impact on literature and the Brontes can be seen in the following text, which describes the Bronte sisters inventing plays.  The text comes from “Emily Bronte”, by Agnes Robinson.

‘…Emily’s and my best plays were established on the 1^st of December, 1827   I [Charlotte Bronte] will sketch out the origin of our plays more explicitly if I can.  .Papa bought Branwell some wooden soldiers at Leeds…Emily and I jumped out of bed, and I snatched up one and exclaimed, “This is the Duke of Wellington!  This shall be the Duke.” … In another play Emily chooses Sir Walter Scott, Mr. Lockhart, and Johnny Lockhart as her representatives…’

An Empty Easel

JMW Turner's passing was posted last year.  Turner worked with Sir Walter Scott on Scott's "Provincial Antiquities of Scotland", and "Poetical Works".  From American philosopher Elbert Hubbard comes the following on the collaboration between the two: 'One spot in Turner's life over which I like to linger is his friendship with Sir Walter Scott. They collaborated in the production of "Provincial Antiquities," and spent many happy hours together tramping over Scottish moors and mountains. Sir Walter lived out his days in happy ignorance concerning the art of painting, and although he liked the society of Turner, he confessed that it was quite beyond his ken why people bought his pictures.


"And as for your books," said Turner, "the covers of some are certainly very pretty."


Yet these men took a satisfaction in each other's society, such as brothers might enjoy, but without either man appreciating the greatness of the other. '

Joseph Mallord William Turner

Turner passed this day, December 19, in 1775. Always a private individual, Turner had a residence in Chelsea which he holed up in, preparing to die. Friends found him the day before his death.

Turner was the son of a barber, and was born in his father's shop. The elder Turner supported the son's interest in art, and the two remained close throughout life. In 1789, Turner entered the Royal Academy (RA) as a student. In 1802 he was elected an academician. In 1807, he became professor of perspective at the RA. That year, his "Liber Studiorum" was issued, full of engravings by himself and others. The "Liber Studiorum" was issued in several volumes over several years, and included several Walter Scott related subjects. In 1831, Scott's publisher Robert Cadell wrote to Turner, asking him to illustrate a new edition of "Scott's Poetical Works". Turner replied favorably, offering 24 designs at 25 guineas each; well under the rate Cadell anticipated.