Alfred Tennyson before 1897

This small pencil sketch of Alfred Tennyson, was made in April 1851 by T. Spedding at Aldworth. It’s found within the pages of a book, positioned next to Tennyson’s poem, ‘The Little Maid.’ Tennyson became Poet Laureate in 1850, so this sketch captures him at a key moment of institutional recognition. The informality of the image is striking; we see the poet relaxing in a chair, engrossed in a book. The image and the poem create a dialogue. Tennyson’s verse speaks of childhood and loss and this portrait creates an intimate setting for the poet, far removed from the formal portraiture which was common at the time. To understand the sketch fully, one needs to consider not only Tennyson's biography and his work, but also the context of Victorian literary culture and the rise of celebrity. Comparing this image with others from the period, found in archives and literary journals, reveals how the representation of literary figures became a cultural phenomenon, shaping their public perception.