She Never Told Her Love, But Sat Like Patience on a Monument 1827

Robert Smirke's 1827 drawing, "She Never Told Her Love, But Sat Like Patience on a Monument," depicts a poignant scene of unspoken love. A young woman sits, her head resting on her hand, before a statue of Cupid, symbolizing unrequited affection. A young man sits beside her, seemingly lost in contemplation. Smirke's use of muted tones and soft lines creates a delicate atmosphere, suggesting both longing and resignation. The artwork's title, drawn from William Wordsworth's poem "She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways", enhances its romantic and melancholic undertones.