'Byron from Pisa' painted by Hugh Buchanan.
Hugh Buchanan's Lord Byron watercolours depict much correspondence between Byron and his friends, many with personalised wax seals still intact. Byron's letters show a life of extravagance, travel and scandal.
John Murray II was Byron's good friend, publisher and literary critic. The John Murray Archive contains the largest and greatest collection of Byron papers and archives.
Buchanan created a number of paintings of the Byron collection, focussed on Byron's wax seals and his handwriting throughout his correspondence. On display alongside Buchanan's paintings was Byron's 1819 letter to Murray, with a red wax seal.
This item featured in our display, 'Hugh Buchanan paints the John Murray Archive', at the Library from 25 June until 6 September 2015.