Artist and Farmer

“Sheep will be the one idea in your mind; and as for poetry, nothing will be further from your thoughts.... Were you to shepherd too long your wits would certainly go wool-gathering, even if you were not tempted to bleat” 
​- Samuel Butler.

Butler most likely wrote this poetic reflection in his hut by the light of this tiny candle stick. His sheep brand also took the motif of a candlestick. One allowed him to write, read and play music by the fire in the evenings, the other to make money during the day. This tension exists as much in Butler’s work as it does for artists now. Among the artefacts kept in Canterbury Museum, is a portrait by Butler of Thomas Cass. Thanks to Curator Julia Bradshaw for showing us the artefacts. #artistandfarmer #erewhonproject 🐑 🏔