"Mrs. Boswell (left) and Johnson (right) sit on opposite sides of a small square tea-table; Boswell sits between them on the farther side of the table, with a complacent expression, his right hand on his breast, his left held towards Johnson, as if displaying his friend. Johnson, with an expression of reflective melancholy, takes sugar with a pair of tongs, his tea-cup in his left hand. Mrs. Boswell clasps her hands ecstatically and smiles admiringly at Johnson. A foot-boy stands behind Johnson and Boswell holding a salver; he yawns violently, scratching his tousled head. A wall-clock shows that it is 12.10. A single candle in a sconce (left) lights the room."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., One in a series of twenty plates by Rowlandson after S. Collings. See British Museum catalogue v. 6, page 345., Plate from: Picturesque beauties of Boswell, Part the First. [London] : [E. Jackson], [1786], Four lines of verse below title: "My wife had tea ready for him which it is well known he delighted to drink at all hours, particularly when sitting up late ..." Vide Journal p. 14., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and In mss. in lower left corner: E-146.
Publisher:
Publish'd May 15th 1786, by E. Jackson No. 14, Mary-le-bone Street Golden Square
Subject (Name):
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784, Boswell, James, 1740-1795, Boswell, Margaret Montgomerie, -1789, and Boswell, James, 1740-1795.
"Johnson (left) sits at a small rectangular breakfast-table with his back to the door. A nursemaid behind him holds the infant Veronica, who leans forward, pushing Johnson's wig from his head; he holds up his finger admonishingly and does not appear pleased, though all the others smile admiringly. These are: Mrs. Boswell, seated (right) opposite Johnson; Boswell standing beside Johnson and clasping his hands over 'Ogden' (cf. BMSat 7031); the two visitors, Mr. Scott and Sir William Forbes; the tousled foot-boy, who carries in a tray of tea-things which he is about to place beside the urn on the otherwise bare table. Three pictures decorate the wall: 'Sancta Veronica', kneeling in prayer before a reading-desk; a medallion inscribed 'Bruce' and a half length portrait of 'Alexander of Kincardin' dressed as a courtier."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., One in a series of twenty plates by Rowlandson after S. Collings. See British Museum catalogue v. 6, page 345., Plate from: Picturesque beauties of Boswell, Part the First. [London] : [E. Jackson], [1786], Three lines of verse below title: "Mr. Johnson was pleas'd with my daughter Veronica, then a child of about four-months old she had the appearance of listening to him ..." Vide Journal p. 17., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Ogden -- Nursemaid -- Tea tray -- Tea urn -- Mr. Scott -- Portrait on wall: Alexander of Kincardin -- Portrait on wall: Bruce., and In mss in lower left corner: E-148.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 30th 1786, by E Jackson, No. 14 Marylebone Street, Golden Square
Subject (Name):
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784, Boswell, James, 1740-1795, Boswell, Margaret Montgomerie, -1789, Boswell, James, 1740-1795., and Forbes, William, Sir, 1739-1806
"Boswell and his wife in the kitchen prepare a dinner for Johnson, who is seen in back view through an open street-door on the extreme left. They face each other smiling across a small, ramshackle table; Boswell is cutting off the neck of a grouse (which resembles a duck or goose). He wears the Scots cap and the pen behind the ear of BMSat 7031, &c., with an apron. From his pocket project 'Ogden' (see BMSat 7031) and the 'Journal'. Mrs. Boswell holds a rolling-pin. Behind (right) is a slatternly maidservant in back view looking to the left with a smile. On the ground are two piles of large birds intended for grouse, and an enormous lobster. Behind is a primitive kitchen fireplace; two large pots are suspended over the fire. The spit rests horizontally above the fireplace."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., One in a series of twenty plates by Rowlandson after S. Collings. See British Museum catalogue, v. 6, page 345., Plate from: Picturesque beauties of Boswell, Part the First. [London] : [E. Jackson], [1786], Three lines of verse below title: "We gave him as good a dinner as we could. Our Scotch muir-fowl, or growse, were then abundant ..." Vide Journal p. 123., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Scots cap -- Grouse -- Ogden -- Lobster -- Fireplace with hanging pots -- Servants., and In mss. in lower left corner: E -149.
Publisher:
Pubd. 15 May 1786, by E. Jackson, No. 14, Mary-bone Street. Golden Square
Subject (Name):
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784, Boswell, James, 1740-1795, Boswell, Margaret Montgomerie, -1789, and Boswell, James, 1740-1795.
