Two Drapery Studies [verso]

1842

A year of loss: his father and first child die

In the summer the painter’s father, who lived with the young couple in Montmartre, died, and in November Brown and Elizabeth’s first child died in infancy.

1843

No success at the Westminster cartoon competition

Brown submitted “The Body of Harold Brought before William” to the competition for decorating the new Palace of Westminster, without success.

19 luglio 1843

Daughter born: Lucy Madox Brown

1845

To Rome for his ailing wife

Back in England in 1844, the family set off for Rome in 1845, hoping to relieve Elizabeth’s consumption. That year in Basel Brown was influenced by the works of Holbein.

1845–1846

In Rome: Overbeck, Cornelius and the Nazarenes

In Rome Brown met Friedrich Overbeck and Peter Cornelius and drew close to the Nazarenes. Much of what he took from them later influenced the Pre-Raphaelites.

June 1846

Elizabeth dies on the way back from Rome

Elizabeth, ill with consumption, died in Paris aged 27 on the journey from Rome back to England. She was buried on the western side of Highgate Cemetery.