The Parting of Abelard and Eloisa
After Angelica Kauffman, 1803

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The Parting of Abelard and Eloisa
Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) (after)
Gabriel Scorodoomoff (engraver)
The Parting of Abelard and Eloisa
Anthony Molteno, London: 1803
Black and white stipple engraving
17.5 x 14.5 inches, sheet
14 x 11.5 inches, image
Sold, please inquire as to the availability of similar items.

A Catholic Sister comforts a heartbroken Heloise as she is forced to part with her lover Abelard. The tragic story of these Medieval lovers was popular in the Romantic era. Peter Abelard was a brilliant 12th Century dialectician and scholar who attracted great numbers of students to Paris. This part of his career was cut short by his romance with Heloise (died c. 1164), the intelligent niece of Fulbert, canon of Notre Dame, who had hired Abelard as her tutor. After Heloise bore a son, a secret marriage was held to appease Fulbert, but the uncle's mistreatment of Heloise led Abelard to help her escape to the convent at Argenteuil, and this appears to be the moment illustrated in this print. Eventually Abelard became an abbott and Heloise an abbess.

The original painting by Kauffmann was done prior to 1780 and is in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Russia.

Angelica Kauffman was a child prodigy who was trained by her father, also a painter. From the age of 16 she traveled through Austria and Italy, assisting him with religious commissions as well as painting portrait commissions of her own. After arriving in London in 1766, she became known for her historical paintings, the most prestigious type of painting during the 18th Century. This engraving is among her historical subjects, which were taken from ancient as well as modern history. Kauffman achieved extraordinary recognition for a female artist of her day, and was one of only two female founding members of the British Royal Academy. She spent the latter part of her life in Italy.

Anthony Molteno, the publisher, was a printseller and bookseller active in London as an individual or with various partners over the years from 1789 to after 1830. He also was a collector of drawings.

References:

"Peter Abelard." http://www.bartleby.com/65/ab/Abelard.html (23 April 2002).

Heller, Nancy G. Women Artists, An Illustrated History. Abbeville Press: New York, 1987, pp. 52-58.

Maxted, Ian. "The London book trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members." Exeter Working Papers in British Book Trade History. Devon Library and Information Services. 2001. http://www.devon.gov.uk/library/locstudy/bookhist/lonm.html (23 April 2002).