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Notes
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Héloïse (or Eloisa) is lying on her deathbed, a priest gesticulates heavenwards and two nuns kneel beside her. This is the conclusion of the tragic medieval story of Héloïse (1101–1164), niece of Fulbert, a canon of Notre Dame Cathedral, and Peter Abelard (1079–1142), a preacher and her teacher. The lovers are immortalised in the poem by Alexander Pope (1688–1744) by which Kauffmann was inspired on more than one occasion. Their love for each other was discovered by Héloïse's uncle who had Abelard castrated. She retreated to a convent whilst he went to the Abbey of Saint Denis and their famous correspondence began. This circular picture by a book illustrator is a copy from Thomas Burke's engraving of the original painting, once owned by the Earl of Exeter at Burghley House and now in the Moravian Museum, Brno.
Title
The Death of Héloïse
Date
1782–1786
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 40.5 x W 40.5 cm
Accession number
732303
Acquisition method
gift from Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare along with the estate, house and its contents, 1946
Work type
Painting
National Trust, Stourhead
Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6QD England
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