ok. 1850 "Found Drowned" - George Frederic Watts (1817-1904)
Obraz brytyjski na podstawie wiersza "The Bridge of Sights" z 1844 r. Thomasa Hooda (1798-1845).
Przedstawia młodą kobietę, która rzuciła się z mostu Waterloo wprost w wody Tamizy. Kontury przemysłowego Londynu przykryte są grubą warstwą smogu, a w rynce topielicy tkwi łańcuszek z medalikiem. Podrzucam fragmenty wiersza dla lepszego zobrazowania:

"The Bridge of Sights"
ONE more Unfortunate,
    Weary of breath,
Rashly importunate,
    Gone to her death!

Take her up tenderly,
    Lift her with care;
Fashion'd so slenderly
    Young, and so fair!

Look at her garments
Clinging like cerements;
Whilst the wave constantly
    Drips from her clothing;
Take her up instantly,
    Loving, not loathing.

Touch her not scornfully;
Think of her mournfully,
    Gently and humanly;
Not of the stains of her,
All that remains of her
    Now is pure womanly.

[...]
Who was her father?
    Who was her mother?
Had she a sister?
    Had she a brother?
Or was there a dearer one
Still, and a nearer one
    Yet, than all other?

Alas! for the rarity
Of Christian charity
    Under the sun!
O, it was pitiful!
Near a whole city full,
    Home she had none.

[...]
The bleak wind of March
    Made her tremble and shiver;
But not the dark arch,
Or the black flowing river:
Mad from life's history,
Glad to death's mystery,
    Swift to be hurl'd—
Anywhere, anywhere
    Out of the world!

In she plunged boldly—
No matter how coldly
    The rough river ran—
Over the brink of it,
Picture it—think of it,
    Dissolute Man!

[...]
And her eyes, close them,
    Staring so blindly!

Dreadfully staring
    Thro' muddy impurity,
As when with the daring
Last look of despairing
    Fix'd on futurity.

[...]
Owning her weakness,
    Her evil behaviour,
And leaving, with meekness,
    Her sins to her Saviour!
#historiazpaszkom #malarstwo #poezja #angielskizhejto