A Catalogue Raisonné of the Engraved Works of William Woollett |
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3RD STATE.-Line according to Act Act directs Act of Parliament Artists B. T. Pouncy B.M. 2ND STATE.-Proof Benjamin West born Bowles in St Boydell in Cheapside Bradford British Museum Byrne Carington Bowles centre Claude Lorrain clouds Cornelis Dusart cross hatchings died Dimensions Dimensions:-21 distant sky English and French Engrav'd Engraver in Cheapside Esqr figures Filippo Lauri Fleet Street foreground Garden George Smith Golden Lion graver Inscribed John Bowles John Boydell JOHN HAMILTON MORTIMER John Tinney Landscape left Drawn left Painted left white Leicester Fields Lion in Fleet London Maidstone Majesty margin Mortimer Museum a touched names Original Picture Paul's Church Yard plate publication altered to:-Printed Publish'd according Published June Rathbone Place re-bitten Richard Paton Richard Wilson right Engraved right:-W Robt Sayer in Fleet sculpsit sky put Sold by John STATE.-Line of publication STATE.-The Etching Thomas Hearne title in English touched proof West Wycomb William Woollett Wolfe Woollett sculpt
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Page vi - The plate was finished ; and, after taking a very few proofs, I published the print at five shillings, and it succeeded so much beyond my expectation, that I immediately em-ployed Mr Woollett upon another engraving, from another picture by Wilson ; and I am now thoroughly convinced, that had I continued in publishing subjects of their description, my fortune would have been increased ten-fold.
Page v - This sum was to me an unheard-of-price, being considerably more than I had given for any copperplate. However, serious as the sum was, I bade him get to work, and he proceeded with all possible cheerfulness, for, as he went on, I advanced him money ; and though he lost no time, I found that he had received nearly the whole amount before he had half finished his task. I frequently called upon him, and found him struggling with serious difficulties, with his wife and family, in an upper lodging in...
Page 37 - Lord Grosvenor, disregarding the frowns of the amateurs, and the, at best, cold approbation of the Academy, purchased this work, which, in spite of laced coats and cocked hats, is one of the best of our historical pictures. The Indian warrior, watching the dying hero, to see if he equalled in fortitude the children of the deserts, is a fine stroke of nature and poetry.
Page 38 - Death of Wolfe." Now we will see what English historians think of the "Death of Wolfe." Robert Wright, in 'his "Life of Wolfe," informs us that "Monckton, Barre, and other persons portrayed in the group around Wolfe were not on the spot. Monckton had been shot through the lung. Barre had been blinded, and Surgeon Adair, who is represented in attendance, was then at Crown Point. West wished Gen. Murray to figure in the picture, but the honest Scot refused, saying, 'No! No! I was not by. I was leading...
Page v - I encouraged him, by allowing him to draw upon me to the extent of £25 more ; and, at length, that sum was paid, and I was unavoidably under the necessity of saying, — ' Mr Woollett, I find we have made too close a bargain with each other ; you have exerted yourself, and I fear I have gone beyond my strength, or, indeed, what I ought to have risked, as we neither of us can be aware of the success of the speculation. However, I am determined, whatever the event may be, to enable you to finish it...
Page xiv - The genius of engraving handing down to posterity the works of painting, sculpture, and architecture, whilst Fame is distributing them over the four quarters of the globe," was erected and inscribed to William Woollen, born August *9th, 1735, died May 22d, 1785.
Page viii - Hampton, and them safely keep, till further orders ; and for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand and seal this 23 day of January 1706, 7. CORNBURY (seal) To Ebenezer Wilson, Esq. High Sheriff of New York. A true copy — Ebenezer Wilson.
Page vi - I ought to have risked, as we neither of us can be aware of the success of the speculation. However, I am determined, whatever the event may be, to enable you to finish it to your wish, — at least to allow you to work upon it as long as another Х'2Г> can extend, but there we positively must stop.
Page v - At this time, the principal conversation among artists was upon Mr. Wilson's grand picture of Niobe, which had just arrived from Rome. I, therefore, immediately applied to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, its owner, and procured permission for Woollett to engrave it. But before he ventured upon the task, I requested to know what idea he had as to the expense, and, after some consideration, he said he thought he could engrave it for one hundred guineas. This sum, small as it may now appear,...
Page 14 - Q0) o ft were to be wished that he had explained its meaning ; for, being symbolical, the meaning of it is not so obvious as the other (that on false perspective). To me it conveys the idea which Milton so poetically describes of the angel Uriel gliding down to Paradise on a sunbeam ; but the young gentleman has dropped off before he had arrived at his journey's end, with Palladio's book of architecture on his knees. A ray of light from the sun, rising over a distant mountain, is directed to a scroll...