"Alderman Boydell stands within a magic circle, directing a sacrifice of Shakespeare's plays; these are burning at his feet; the dense smoke which rises from the fire obscures a monument to Shakespeare, concealing the head and shoulders of a figure of Shakespeare in bas-relief pointing to the inscription on the monument (as in Kent's monument in Westminster Abbey)" ... Beside the fire (right) stands on end a huge volume inscribed 'List of Subscribers to the Sacrifice'. On it sits an aged gnome-like creature with a large head, symbolizing Avarice; under each skinny arm he clutches a large money-bag inscribed '£'. On his shoulders stands an infant blowing from a tobacco-pipe the bubble of 'Immortality'; he wears a head-dress of peacock's feathers, symbolizing Vanity. Boydell, who wears a furred alderman's robe, looks fixedly at Avarice, who returns his cunning smile; with his left hand he points to the fire. He is less caricatured than savagely depicted, the realism of his figure contrasting with the fantasy of the design. An evil-looking creature wearing a fool's cap crouches by the fire (right) blowing it with bellows. He is a caricature of the fool in West's picture of Lear (iii. 2). The smoke as it rises expands into heavy clouds which support various figures, more or less travestied, from the pictures commissioned by Boydell for his Shakespeare Gallery. ... In the upper part of the design is an infant at a woman's breast attended by two other figures. This does not appear to be from the Shakespeare Gallery. ... On the ground and just within the magic circle kneels a ragged boy with palette and brushes who is pushing another boy, holding an engraver's tool, outside the circle, which is inscribed in large letters: 'ΟΥΔΕΙΣ ΑΜΟΥΣΟΣ ΕΙΣΙΤΩ' ... Behind the boys and in the background is the temple of Fame on a mountain-top. Fame, poised on the apex of the temple, blows upwards from her trumpet a blast of bubbles ...--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Offering to avarice
Description:
Title etched below image., Advertisement etched below title: Soon as possible will be publishd., price one guinea, N. 1 of Shakespeare Illustrated, with the text, annotations, &c. complete; the engravings to be carried on in imitation of the aldermans liberal plan, further particulars will shortly be given in all the public papers., "Price 5 sh.", Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Price completely erased from sheet.
Publisher:
Pubd. June 20th, 1789, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
"An elaborate composition, divided by the arc of a rainbow which supports a woman who stands at a large dark canvas daubing at a goblin-like bearded figure intended for Titian. She holds a palette and brushes, but her paints are mixed together in an earthenware pot like those used by house - or sign-painters (as in BMSat 7770); this stands on the rainbow at her feet; an ass with the wings of Pegasus kneels to drink greedily from it. His wings are covered with words: 'Review', 'Magazines', 'Advertis[er]', 'Squib', 'Herald', 'Times', 'True Briton', 'Puff' [repeated many times], 'World', 'Morning Chronicle', 'Evening Post', 'Star', 'Sham Abuse', 'Squibbs', 'Oracle', 'Courier'. Above the canvas, and at the apex of the design, is an eagle surrounded with flames, and the centre of rays which illuminate black clouds in the upper part of the print; in its claws is a scroll: 'Venetian. Manuscript'. The artist is poised on high-heeled shoes, her quilted petticoat is ragged, but from her waist hangs a vast train which drapes the rainbow and terminates in peacock's feathers. This is held up by three naked Graces. Along the rainbow is etched: 'redeunt Titianica regna, jam nova progenies coelo demittitur alto'. Part of a reflected rainbow issues from the painting on the canvas, with a fainter version of the inscription '. . . va pro[gen]ies . . . demittitur alto', letters being concealed by the hair of the artist and by a flamboyant winged figure seated on the rainbow; he blows his trumpet, from which issue the words: 'You little Stars, hide your diminish'd Head[s].' These words terminate in thick clouds from which five stars fall like meteors, leaving trails inscribed: 'Rubens', 'Correggio', 'Michael Angelo', 'Raphael', 'Parmegiano'. Beneath the rainbow is a paved floor. In the foreground (left) the head and shoulders of (the ghost of) Sir Joshua Reynolds emerge, pushing up one of the stones; he is draped in a shroud, but wears spectacles; in his right hand is his ear-trumpet, his left is raised admonishingly ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Seven-wise-men consulting the new Venetian oracle
Description:
Title etched below image., Text above image: Ah! ha! Ah! ha! Messrs. Van-Butchell! Ireland! Charles! Lane & Lackington! What are you now? ah! ha! ah! ha! ha! ha! ha!!!, Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Matted to 72 x 56 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Novr. 2d, 1797, by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street
