92 
WILLIAM ETTY. 
And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his 
head, and said, ‘Strengthen me O Lord God of Israel. 
(Judith xiii, 5,6). This was painted in 1827, and exhibited at 
the Royal Academy and at the British Institution. The size 
is 11ft. ioin. by 15ft. It was eventually purchased for 500 
guineas by the Council of the Scottish Academy, with its 
pendants, Judith with the head of Holofernes, 1830, and The 
Maid of Judith waiting outside the tent of Holcfernes, 1831. 
The fifth, Benaiah, one of David's chief captains (12ft. by 14ft.), 
had been painted in 1829. This and the Combat were also 
purchased by the Scottish Academy, the latter from Mr. 
Martin at the original price, and the Benaiah for 130 guineas, 
including a costly frame. The whole series now hang in the 
Dome room of the Scottish Academy at Edinburgh. The 
sixth colossal picture was Ulysses and the Sirens, 14ft. 6in. by 
about 10ft. high, containing twenty figures, begun in 1836, 
exhibited the following year at the Academy, and sold along 
with Delilah for the sum of £250 to a Mr. Grant, of Manchester, 
and eventually presented by his brother to the Manchester 
Institution where it still remains. The other three large 
pictures were exhibited in 1847, three scenes from the history 
of Joan of Arc, the first in the church of St. Catherine de 
Fierbois, where she finds the sword—the second, making a 
Sortie from the Gates of Orleans; and the third, the 
Martyrdom at Rouen. The three were sold for £2,500. 
Each picture was designed by the painter to exhibit some 
virtue or moral quality. The Combat illustrating mercy—the 
Benaiah, courage—the Sirens, control of the passions—the 
Judiths, patriotism and self-sacrifice to one's country, one’s 
people, and one’s God—the Joan of Arc, religion, loyalty, and 
faith. The labour bestowed on them was immense, the 
preparation long and careful, and the completion taxed Etty's 
failing powers severely. After his election to the Academy he 
still continued his regular attendance at the Life School, no 
doubt greatly to his own benefit, and at the same time 
affording an encouraging example to the younger students. 
It was in this same year, 1828, that the proposal was first made 
to remove the York City Walls, which roused not only Etty, 
but his friends, Professor Phillips, Mr. Wellbeloved, Dr. 
