Tomb of William Mulready, by Godfrey Sykes, Kensal Green Cemetery, London (original) (raw)

The Tomb of William Mulready (1811-63)

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Photograph, text, and commentary below by Jacqueline Banerjee 2009

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This is a "six-poster Lombard Renaissance" monument (Coones), with a full-length effigy of the Royal Academician William Mulready reposing under an elaborate canopy, atop plush drapery. It brings to mind Macbeth's famous words about Duncan: "After life's fitful fever he sleeps well" (Macbeth 3, ii, 23). Made of artificial stone which has weathered rather well, it still looks impressive, despite the gasometer in the background. Round the base are "incised miniature representations of some of Mulready's popular paintings" (Coones).

Mulready could not have had a more prestigious memorial here. Godfrey Sykes was a celebrated designer, at this time a "key figure" in the decoration of the Victoria and Albert Museum (Crawley 70). The tomb stands prominently on the cemetery's Centre Avenue.

References

Coones, Paul. Kensal Green Cemetery: A Concise Introductory Guide & Select List of Notable Monuments, Together with a Plan. Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, 1994.

Crawley, David. Introduction to Victorian Style. London: Eagle Editions, 1998.

Last modified 23 January 2009