The Death of Héloïse (after Angelica Kauffman), 1782-86 (oil on canvas)

Samuel Wale (Great Yarmouth 1721 – London 1786). Oil painting on canvas,The Death of Héloïse, by Samuel Wale (Great Yarmouth 1721 – London 1786), after Angelica Kauffman (1741 - 1807), 1782 - 1786. A circular painting of Héloïse who lies on her death bed, holding a crucifix, while two nuns kneel at the foot and a priest (Abelard) incites her to fix her thoughts upon heaven. A tablet on the frame is inscribed with the lines from the poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744), 'Eloisa to Abelard' (1717), beginning 'Thou, Abelard! the last sad office....' Copied from Thomas Burke's engraving of the original painting, which was at Burghley House and now in Moravian Museum, Brno. Stourhead, Wiltshire (Accredited Museum)