Joseph Severn (1793–1879) was a British painter primarily of portraits and subject pictures. He is recognized for his close friendship with the English poet John Keats, whom he accompanied and nursed in Rome during Keats's final illness. Severn's early career established him as a practitioner within the Romantic tradition.
Severn's oeuvre encompassed Italian genre scenes, literary, and biblical subjects, alongside his portraiture. His work includes a portrait of John Keats (c. 1820), which documents their personal connection. Other notable works include Ariel: 'Where the Bee Sucks...' (c. 1826-1836) and The Death of Julian Avenel (1849).
A selection of Severn's paintings is held in significant London institutions, including the National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Tate Britain. Later in his life, Severn served as the British consul in Rome from 1861.
