[The Beggar's Opera] [art original].
Found In:
Lewis Walpole Library > [The Beggar's Opera] [art original].
16721014
Description
- Title
- [The Beggar's Opera] [art original].
- Alternative Title
- Horace Walpole’s Copy of A Beggar’s Opera
- Contributor
- Hogarth, William, 1697-1764, attributed name.
- Published / Created
- [approximately 1728]
- Publication Place
- England
- Abstract
-
A scene from the Beggar’s Opera as performed and perhaps witnessed by Hogarth. The scene (Act III, Scene II) is the last. Set in Newgate prison. At center stage, is the highwayman Macheath, chained (played by Thomas Walker) wearing red. Two women who believe they are married to him plead for his life as he is sentenced to the gallows. To his left, Lucy Lockit with her back to the audience (played by Mrs. Egleton) is dressed in blue. She pleads with her father the prison warden (John Hall). On his right Polly Peachum (played by Lavinia Fenton) dressed in white with a pink sash, pleads with her father, a dishonest lawyer and informant (played by John Hippisley). The actors are flanked by an audience members privileged to sit in boxes on the stage. Among these is John Rich the impresario of the play. Cf. Einberg
- Description
-
Title from 2005 Christie's appraisal.
Artist unidentified.
Formerly attributed to William Hogarth. See R. Paulson, Hogarth: his life, art and times, pp. 26-7, pl. 45.
In a contemporary gilt Rococo frame.
Label on verso in Horace Walpole's with a note in his hand: "Sketch of the Beggar’s opera as first performed: Macheath, in red, by Walker. Polly kneeling, in white, by Miss Fenton, afterwards Duches of Bolton: Lucy in green, her face turned away, by Mrs. Eggleton; Peacham, in black by Hippisley; Lockit, by Hall. Amongst the audience, on the left hand, Sir Thomas Robinson of Rokeby, a tall gentleman with a long lean face; on the right, Sir Robert Faggs, profile, a fat man with short grey hair, much known at Newmarket. Painted by Hogarth. H.W."
Text from the 1842 Catalogue of the classic contents of Strawberry Hill collected by Horace Walpole: The original sketch of The Beggar's Opera, representing Walker as Macheath; Miss Fenton, afterwards Duchess of Bolton, as Polly, Hippisley, as Peach'em; Hall as Lockit; on one side in a box are Sir Thomas Robinson, very tall and lean, and Sir Robert Flagg, a famous Horse racer, fat, with short grey hair, by Hogarth. This highly interesting and curious picture was purchased at the sale of John Rich, the celebrated Harlequin and Master of the Theatres in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields and Covent Garden, for whom the picture was painted - it is in its pure and genuine state, and presents one of the most remarkable efforts of this original master.
Text from the 1774 edition of Horace Walpole's Description of the villa of Mr. Horace Walpole, at Strawberry Hill: The original sketch of the Beggar's Opera: Walker as Macheath; miss Fenton, afterwards duchess of Bolton, as Polly; Hippisley, as Peach'em; Hall as Lockit: on one side in a box, sir Thomas Robinson, very tall and lean; sir Robert Fagg, a famous horse-racer, fat, with short grey hair: by Hogarth. Bought at the sale of John Rich, the well known harlequin, and master of the theatres in Lincoln's-inn-fields and Covent-garden, for whom the picture was painted. Formerly hung in the Great North Bedchamber, Strawberry Hill.
Title devised by curator. - Provenance
- Owned by Horace Walpole 1762; April 2, John Rich Sale, bt Horace Walpole, 5 gns; 1842, May 17, Strawberry Hill Sale, Day 20, Lot 114 bt W. Strong, 4 gns; R.P. Willett; 1869, May 10, The Willett Sale, Lot 58, bt the Earl of Lonsdale, £84; 1947, April 9, Lowther Castle sale, Maple and Co., Ltd. and Thomas Wyatt, bt Spink & Son; 1947, July 17, bt Annie Burr Lewis for W.S. Lewis; The Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University.
- Extent
- 1 painting : 45.7 x 53.3 cm
- Language
-
No linguistic content
Collection Information
- Repository
- Lewis Walpole Library
- Call Number
- LWL Ptg. 107 Framed, on view in Long Hall
Subjects, Formats, And Genres
- Genre
-
Illustrations
Portrait paintings
Oil paintings (visual works) - Material
- oil on canvas ; and canvas oil 18 x 21 in., framed to 27 x 30 in.
- Resource Type
- still image
- Subject (Name)
- Gay, John, 1685-1732.
- Subjects
-
Gay, John, 1685-1732 > Illustrations
Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797 > Ownership
Access And Usage Rights
- Access
- Public
- Rights
- The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
- Citation
- Sketch for The Beggar's Opera. The Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University.
Identifiers
- Orbis Record
- 12433502
- Object ID (OID)
- 16721014
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