The finding of Don Juan by Haidée 1871

Ford Madox Brown made this watercolor work, "The Finding of Don Juan by Haidée", in nineteenth-century Britain. It’s an illustration of Lord Byron's narrative poem 'Don Juan', a satirical epic which challenged the conservative literary norms of the period. Here, Brown depicts the moment when Juan is found washed ashore by Haidée and her maid. The picture, like the poem, creates meaning through cultural references. The shipwreck and rescue are reminiscent of classical and romantic themes, but set against the backdrop of an exotic Greek island landscape. Brown’s choice of this subject reflects a broader Victorian fascination with foreign lands and the era’s evolving attitudes toward adventure and romance. Historians can look to Byron's poem, travel literature, and the art criticism of the period to understand the work. Brown’s painting encourages us to reflect on the Victorian relationship with classical literature and the public role of art.