‘The Maria Crowther, Sailing Brig’

This atmospheric watercolour was painted by Joseph Severn while at sea in October 1820. He was accompanying Keats from London to Rome where they hoped he would become well. The Maria Crowther was two-masted vessel built for trade rather than passengers and the dark and cramped cabin flooded. The poor conditions and diet during more than six weeks at sea likely made Keats worse.