{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1293844"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1293844/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HD3499/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HD3499/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HD3499","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1293844/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1293844","accessionNumber":"38:1-1939","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Text of poem 'The May Queen' from 'Illustrations to Tennyson's Idylls of the King and Other Poems', vol. 2","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Idylls of the King and other Poems, vol. 2","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"In 1874, Julia Margaret Cameron's neighbor, and renowned poet, Alfred Tennyson suggested that Cameron create some illustrations for a new volume of his series of poems on Arthurian legends, \"Idylls of  the King.\"  In the end, only three images were used, as woodcuts, but the full-size prints were later published in two volumes and were accompanied by excerpts from Tennyson's text and his signature.  This is a section of verse from volume two.  ","physicalDescription":"Printed page of poem text in book of poems with photographic illustrations.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Tennyson, Alfred Lord,","id":"N2387"},"association":{"text":"poet","id":"AAT25513"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Cameron, Julia Margaret","id":"A8214"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Henry S. King & Co.","id":"AUTH331649"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Books","id":"THES48986"},{"text":"Allegory","id":"THES250534"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"},{"text":"Woman Artist","id":"THES387590"},{"text":"Woman photographer","id":"THES380381"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2014HD3499"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"X","shelf":"312","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}],[{"text":"text","id":"AAT250810"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1875","earliest":"1875-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"38-1939","id":"O1098311"},"association":"Part"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"44.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"book cover","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"39","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"book cover","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"43","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"page","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"33","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"page","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"I thought to pass away before, and yet alive I am;\t\r\nAnd in the fields all around I hear the bleating of the lamb.\t\r\nHow sadly, I remember, rose the morning of the year!\t\r\nTo die before the snowdrop came, and now the violet ’s here.\t        \r\n \r\nO, sweet is the new violet, that comes beneath the skies;\t\r\nAnd sweeter is the young lamb’s voice to me that cannot rise;\t\r\nAnd sweet is all the land about, and all the flowers that blow;\t\r\nAnd sweeter far is death than life, to me that long to go.\t\r\n \r\nIt seemed so hard at first, mother, to leave the blessèd sun,\t        \r\nAnd now it seems as hard to stay; and yet, His will be done!\t\r\nBut still I think it can’t be long before I find release;\t\r\nAnd that good man, the clergyman, has told me words of peace.\t\r\n \r\nO, blessings on his kindly voice, and on his silver hair,\t\r\nAnd blessings on his whole life long, until he meet me there!\t        \r\nO, blessings on his kindly heart and on his silver head!\t\r\nA thousand times I blest him, as he knelt beside my bed.\t\r\n \r\nHe taught me all the mercy, for he showed me all the sin;\t\r\nNow, though my lamp was lighted late, there ’s One will let me in.\t\r\nNor would I now be well, mother, again, if that could be;\t        \r\nFor my desire is but to pass to Him that died for me.\t\r\n \r\nI did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the death-watch beat,—\t\r\nThere came a sweeter token when the night and morning meet;\t\r\nBut sit beside my bed, mother, and put your hand in mine,\t\r\nAnd Effie on the other side, and I will tell the sign.\t        \r\n \r\nAll in the wild March-morning I heard the angels call,—\t\r\nIt was when the moon was setting, and the dark was over all;\t\r\nThe trees began to whisper, and the wind began to roll,\t\r\nAnd in the wild March-morning I heard them call my soul.\t\r\n \r\nFor, lying broad awake, I thought of you and Effie dear;\t        \r\nI saw you sitting in the house, and I no longer here;\t\r\nWith all my strength I prayed for both,—and so I felt resigned,\t\r\nAnd up the valley came a swell of music on the wind.\t\r\n \r\nI thought that it was fancy, and I listened in my bed;\t\r\nAnd then did something speak to me,—I know not what was said;\t        \r\nFor great delight and shuddering took hold of all my mind,\t\r\nAnd up the valley came again the music on the wind.\t\r\n \r\nBut you were sleeping; and I said, “It ’s not for them,—it ’s mine;”\t\r\nAnd if it comes three times, I thought, I take it for a sign.\t\r\nAnd once again it came, and close beside the window-bars;\t        \r\nThen seemed to go right up to heaven and die among the stars.\t\r\n \r\nSo now I think my time is near; I trust it is. I know\t\r\nThe blessèd music went that way my soul will have to go.\t\r\nAnd for myself, indeed, I care not if I go to-day;\t\r\nBut Effie, you must comfort her when I am past away.\t        \r\n \r\nAnd say to Robin a kind word, and tell him not to fret;\t\r\nThere ’s many a worthier than I, would make him happy yet.\t\r\nIf I had lived—I cannot tell—I might have been his wife;\t\r\nBut all these things have ceased to be, with my desire of life.\t\r\n \r\nO, look! the sun begins to rise! the heavens are in a glow;\t        \r\nHe shines upon a hundred fields, and all of them I know.\t\r\nAnd there I move no longer now, and there his light may shine,—\t\r\nWild flowers in the valley for other hands than mine.\t\r\n \r\nO, sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this day is done\t\r\nThe voice that now is speaking may be beyond the sun,—\t        \r\nForever and forever with those just souls and true,—\t\r\nAnd what is life, that we should moan? why make we such ado?\t\r\n \r\nForever and forever, all in a blessèd home,—\t\r\nAnd there to wait a little while till you and Effie come,—\t\r\nTo lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your breast,—\t        \r\nAnd the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Originally part of a bound folio volume containing 11 photographs by Cameron and 11 pages of verse text by Tennyson and 3 other text pages (two photographs are missing, the frontispiece image of Tennyson and the last image, 'The Passing of Arthur').  Volume 2 of two albums of illustrations to Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King and other Poems' published by Henry S. King & Co., 1874-75).  Each photograph is mounted on bluish mounts with gilt borders.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Text of poem 'The May Queen' from 'Illustrations to Tennyson's <i>Idylls of the King and Other Poems</i>', vol. 2, 1875 illustrated with photographs by Julia Margaret Cameron","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Tennyson, Alfred Lord,","id":"N2387"},{"text":"Cameron, Julia Margaret","id":"C5001"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["'Illustrations to Tennyson's Idylls of the King, and other poems', vol. 2, by Julia Margaret Cameron.  London:  Henry S. King & Co., 1875."],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["38:1-1939"],"accessionNumberNum":"38","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1939,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2014-05-14","availableToBook":false}}