Autographed letter signed from Joseph Farington to John Boydell written from Houghton Hall the seat of Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford where he spent three years making drawings of the paintings for Boydell's Collection of prints after the most capital paintings in England (2 vols., 1782). He reports on the progress of his work in general and in particular his work with "the Paul Brills".
Description:
In English. and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Name):
Boydell, John, 1720-1804., Houghton Hall (England), and Walpole, Robert, Earl of Orford, 1676-1745
"Alderman Boydell (half length), wearing a bag-wig, stands in profile to the right, slashing with a knife a small picture on the wall. He glares furtively; the fingers of his left hand are greedily crisped. He says: "There! There! - There's a nice gash! - there! - ah, this will be a glorious subject for to make a fuss about in the News-papers; - a hundred Guineas reward, will make a fine sound: - there! there! - O, there will be fine talking about the Gallery: and it will bring in a rare sight of Shillings for seeing of the cut Pictures; - there! - & there again! - egad there's nothing like having a good headpiece! - here!! - here!! - there! there! - and then these Small pictures won't cost a great deal of money replacing; - indeed one would not like to cut a large one to pieces for the sake of making it look as if People envied us; no! - that would cost rather too much; & my pocket begins - but mum! - thats nothing to nobody - well, none can blame me for going the cheapest way to work: - to [Etched over 'there', erased but just legible] keep up the reputation of the Gallery - there! there! there! - there! there!" ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Peep into the Shakespeare Gallery
Description:
Title etched below image; first five words of title have been scored through but left conspicuously legible., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Shakespeare Gallery -- Vandalism -- Allusion to Renwick Williams, 'The Monster.'
Publisher:
Pubd. April 26th, 1791, by H. Humphry [sic], N. 18 Old Bond Street
