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Lot Essay
Caedmon is the earliest named English poet, and was an Anglo-Saxon lay brother at Whitby Abbey during the abbacy of St Hilda (c.657-680). Caedmon’s awakening depicts an episode recorded in the 8th Century historian Bede’s Historia ecclesiastica. Caedmon retires early to sleep with his animals as he knew no songs to sing with the monks, but had a dream in which he was asked to sing of 'the beginning of created things’. After initially refusing he produced a poem praising God. When he told of his dream and recited the poem he was invited by the abbess to take a monastic vow and was taught sacred history which he turned into verse.
Susan Lushington, who first owned the picture, was the daughter of Vernon Lushington, an important patron of the artist. With her sisters and mother she is depicted in Hughes’s The Home Quartet (Private Collection). Music was close to the family's heart: the subject of Caedmon’s awakening resonated with Susan and Hughes consulted her frequently during its creation.
We are grateful to David Taylor for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.
Susan Lushington, who first owned the picture, was the daughter of Vernon Lushington, an important patron of the artist. With her sisters and mother she is depicted in Hughes’s The Home Quartet (Private Collection). Music was close to the family's heart: the subject of Caedmon’s awakening resonated with Susan and Hughes consulted her frequently during its creation.
We are grateful to David Taylor for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.