HAYDON, BENJAMIN ROBERT, an English painter, was b. at Plymouth, Jan. 25, 1786. He exhibiti:d his first picture at the academy in 1807, "Joseph and Mary Resting with our Savior after a Day's Journey on the Road to Egypt," which found a purchaser in the of Anastasius. It was succeeded by " Dentatus." Haydon quarreled with the academy about the hanging of this picture, and his life thereafter was divided between painting and controversy. IBS pictures brought him admiration. and his willful temper procured him foes. As years passed on the admiration cooled, while the foes remained virulent as ever. At this period, he had ninny patrons, and his pic.• tures brought large prices; his "Judgment of Solomon," for instance, 700guineas. He made several attempts to be admitted as associate of the academy, and when lie was refused he characteristically imputed the r,;fusal to the envy and jealousy of the acade micians, and railed iigainst them more bitterly than ever. His great work, " Christ's Entry into Jerusalem," was exhibited by himself in 1820, hut did not find a purchaser. Nothing daunted, Haydon painted two other subjects from the passion of the Savior. In 1821 he married, and two years thereafter he produced the " of Lazarus," in some respects the most powerful of his works. Tins style of subject—covering enor
mous canvases—not hitting the public taste, lie became involved in pecuniary embarrass ments, and was finally incarcerated in the king's bench, from which, after a time, lie was released through the assistance of his friends. While in prison lie paintecl "Mock Election," which George IV. purchased for 500 guineas. Of his succeeding works, " Napoleon Musing at St. Helena," excited admiration, and was frequently reproduced. In 1836 he was again imprisoned for debt, and was released on a settle ment being effected with his creditors. At this time lie forsook the brush for the plat form, and his lectures on art brought him fame and money. When government determined to decorate the new houses of parliament with pictures, Haydon engaged in the competition, and was unsuccessful. This defeat he never entirely recovered. He exhibited two of his latest productions in 1846 at the Egyptian hall, but the exhibition was coldly regarded by the public. This was the drop which made the cup overflow. On June 22 he died by his own hand. See his Life by Tom Taylor (1852), and his Correspondence and Table Talk, by his son (1876).