In Horace Walpole's 1784 edition of Description of the villa, he describes the Beauclerk drawings thus: "The beauty and grace of the figures and of the children are inimitable; the expression of the passions most masterly, particularly in the devotion of the countess with the porter, of Benedict in the scene with Martin, and the tenderness, despair, and resolution of the countess in the last scene; in which is a new stroke of double passion in Edmund, whose right hand is clenched and ready to strike with anger, the left hand relents. In the scene of the children, some are evidently vulgar, the others children of rank; and the first child, that pretends to look down and does leer upwards, is charming. Only two scenes are represented in all the seven, and yet all are varied; and the ground in the first, by a very uncommon effect, evidently descends and rises again. These sublime drawings are the first histories she ever attempted, were all conceived and executed in a fortnight."
Description:
Title, date and artist name written by Horace Walpole on the verso, in ink., One of six Beauclerk drawings for Mysterious mother in The Lewis Walpole Library., and Lady Diana Beauclerk, English artist, 1734-1808.
In the courtyard of the castle, the enormous ghost of Alfonso appears as Theodore, Manfred, and Friar Jerome look up in fear. Under the figure of the ghost two other figures lay prostrate on the ground, as the castle tumbles in ruins
Description:
Title devised by curator. and Date based on Horace Walpole's letter (dated 22 February 1796) to Bertie Greatheed's father in which he admires his son's four drawings that were inspired by his reading of The Castle of Otranto. All four drawings are bound in Horace Walpole's extra-illustrated copy of The Castle of Otranto (Lewis Walpole Library 49 3729).
A scene from Horace Walpole's Gothic novel The castle of Otranto, with the vision of Alphonso looming large over the courtyard of the castle, the other characters in the foreground either bowing down or looking up in astonishment. The form of Alphonso, dressed in full armor, floats in front of a crumbling section of the castle. The moon occupies the cloud-filled sky above; an angelic figure is visible within a break in the clouds at the top of the image
Description:
Title devised by curator., Unsigned; artist not identified., Date of production supplied by curator., and Mounted opposite page 239 in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. Parma : Printed by Bodoni, for J. Edwards, London, MDCCXCI [1791].
Harding, G. P. (George Perfect), 1780-1853, artist
Published / Created:
[not after 1853]
Call Number:
24 17 791P Copy 5
Collection Title:
Before title page. Castle of Otranto.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
Drawing of an arched niche, surrounded by ornate Gothic tracery, in which several weapons and pieces of armor are arranged. A plumed helmet sits atop the center stack of the arrangement, with an armor chest plate and a round shield below it. Spears and a spiked mace stick out from the left side of the center stack; a variety of axes stick out from the right side
Description:
Title devised by curator., Unsigned; attribution to George Perfect Harding from local catalog card., Date of production based on artist's death date., and Mounted before title page in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. Parma : Printed by Bodoni, for J. Edwards, London, MDCCXCI [1791].
Subject (Name):
Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797.
Subject (Topic):
Armor, Arms & armament, Helmets, Spears, Shields, and Axes
A scene from Horace Walpole's Gothic novel The castle of Otranto, with the servant Bianca shown descending a staircase while looking over her right shoulder, a worried expression on her face. Her gaze is directed at the top of the stairs, where a large hand in armor is seen resting on the banister near the landing of the floor above. The arched opening to the landing is flanked on either side with a display of armor and weapons mounted on the wall. Several arched windows and doorways are seen in the shadowy background
Description:
Title devised by cataloger., Signed and dated by the artist in lower left corner., and Bound in opposite page 217 in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. Parma : Printed by Bodoni, for J. Edwards, London, MDCCXCI [1791].
Drawn frontispiece to Horace Walpole's novel The castle of Otranto, with the Gothic castle featured prominently at center, rising above a tall fortification wall. In the foreground are three mounted knights in full armor and two additional knights on foot leading them. On the far left outside the walls is a church; rolling hills and trees are seen in the distance
Alternative Title:
Castello di Otranto
Description:
Title devised by curator; alternative title from the print that was engraved after this drawing., Signed by the artist in ink in lower right corner., Date of production based on publication date of the book issued with a frontispiece engraved after this drawing., Original drawing for the frontispiece, engraved by Thomas Medland and entitled Castello di Otranto, that was issued with the 1795 edition in Italian of The castle of Otranto., and Inlaid opposite frontispiece in a copy of: Walpole, H. Il castello di Otranto. Londra : Presso, Molini, Polidor, Molini, ed I. Edwards, 1795.
A scene from Horace Walpole's Gothic novel The castle of Otranto, with the character Conrad seen lying under an enormous helmet at the left end of a large, open courtyard. The helmet, topped by large black feathers, obscures all of Conrad's body except for his legs. A crowd has gathered and several men attempt to lift the helmet off its victim. In the background the arched colonnades of the castle terminate in an arched gate on the right; a round tower rises at center above the colonnades. In the left foreground is a wall with an arched window above an arched door, an armorial shield mounted between them
Description:
Title devised by curator., Unsigned; artist not identified., Date of production supplied by curator., and Mounted opposite page 5 in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. Parma : Printed by Bodoni, for J. Edwards, London, MDCCXCI [1791].
Subject (Name):
Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797.
Subject (Topic):
Castles & palaces, Courtyards, Colonnades, Helmets, and Dead persons
At the door of the gallery (left) Diego falls back on Jaquez (left), both with frightened expressions at the sight of the giant's foot in the adjoining chamber (right). Behind them on the wall in the gallery hangs a portrait painting (Alfonso).
Description:
Title devised by cataloger., Formerly identified as "Manfred and Jaquez with foot of 'ghost'.", and Date based on Horace Walpole's letter (dated 22 February 1796) to Bertie Greatheed's father in which he admires his son's four drawings that were inspired by his reading of The Castle of Otranto. All four drawings are bound in Horace Walpole's extra-illustrated copy of The Castle of Otranto (Lewis Walpole Library 49 3729).
Title assigned by curator., Caption written in black ink, below image: "Castle of Otranto. Manfred's compunction at the remonstrance of the Friar on the impropriaty of his conduct. P. 42.", and For further information consult library staff.
