signed with monogram and dated 'Finished April 9. 1859' (lower left), inscribed '"Worship, or Fly."' (lower centre)pencil Unframed: 23.5 x 17.5 cm. (9 1/4 x 6 7/8 in.) Framed: 49 x 42.5 cm. (19 1/4 x 16 1/4 in.)Provenance:Sale; Keys Fine Art, Aylsham, 5 December 2008, lot 602;With Sim Fine Art, Chislehurst, where purchased by the present owner;Private Collection, London.Notes:An early example by Poynter, this drawing depicts a scene from Friedrich de la Motte Fouque's 1814 gothic novel, 'Sintram and His Companions'. The moment shows Sintram exclaiming to an evil presence; 'Then Sintram drew the sword which Gabrielle had given him, held the cross of the hilt before the eyes of his evil guest, and said, calmly, but with a powerful voice, “Worship or fly!” And he fled, the frightful stranger,—he fled with such lightning speed, that it could scarcely be seen whether he had sprung through the window or the door.'1 References:1 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2824/2824-h/2824-h.htm