William Holman HuntEnglish, 1827–1910The Ponte-Vecchio, Florence
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “The Ponte-Vecchio, Florence” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) was a founder member of the group of artists known as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. After they disbanded in the 1850s Hunt was the only member to continue to pursue the concept of 'truth to nature' that had been the central aim of the brotherhood. At the end of 1865 Hunt married Fanny Waugh, and they embarked on a tour. They went first to Egypt, but Fanny was already pregnant and by the time they reached Florence, Italy, on their return home it was clear that they would have to remain there for some time. Although the birth was a difficult one, a son survived. Fanny, however, died of fever at the end of 1866. Hunt returned to London the following September, having designed his wife's tomb and painted this view of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence - the city in which the couple had spent such a happy, if brief, time.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Details
- Accession number
- 196-1894
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
In the life of William Holman Hunt
The whole life1865
Married: Fanny Waugh
late 1866
Fanny dies in childbirth
At the end of 1866 his wife Fanny Waugh died in childbirth in Italy. Hunt sculpted her tomb at Fiesole and had it brought down to the English Cemetery in Florence, beside the tomb of Elizabeth Barrett Browning; he had a close connection with St Mark’s Church in Florence and paid for a communion chalice inscribed in memory of his wife. The “Portrait of Fanny Holman Hunt” is dated 1866–1867.
27 October 1866
Son born: Cyril Benoni Holman Hunt
