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
Alternative Title:
Horace Walpole’s Copy of A Beggar’s Opera
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., and Title devised by curator.
Bretherton, James, approximately 1730-1806, printmaker
Published / Created:
[25 March 1785]
Call Number:
Folio 49 3563 v.2 (Oversize)
Collection Title:
Volume 2, page 27. Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Description:
Title from text on reissued state, published by J. Harris on 1 March 1799; see Lewis Walpole Library call no.: 799.03.01.01., For a slightly earlier state, before the date following printmaker's name was changed from "Jany." to "March", see Lewis Walpole Library call no.: 75 B87 770., A single design on three plates., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Mounted on page 27 in volume 2 of: Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs., 3 prints forming 1 image : etching with drypoint on laid paper ; sheets 52 x 47 cm or smaller., and Sheet trimmed within plate marks.
Title from Horace Walpole's ms. note below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Date based on year of Walpole's death., Probably an illustration from a book., and Matted to 14.8 x 18.4 cm. For further information, consult library staff.
Drawing of the Armory at Strawberry Hill. On display in an alcove on the left is the armor of Francis I, to the right of which hangs the shield painted with the head of Perseus. Other armor and weapons are displayed on a wall near the center of the design. Two thin columns extend down from the ceiling with decorative arches formed between them. A stained glass window is visible on the back wall, and the ornate railing of a staircase is present in the left foreground. A quiver with arrows (?) hangs on the wall in the right foreground; various armorial shields and pieces of art also decorate the walls. A vase and a carved box sit on the floor
Description:
Title devised by curator., Unsigned; questionable attribution to John Carter from local catalog card., Date of production based on Horace Walpole's death date., and Mounted on page 79 of Horace Walpole's extra-illustrated copy of his: A description of the villa of Mr. Horace Walpole. Strawberry Hill : Printed by Thomas Kirgate, 1784. See Hazen, A.T. Bibliography of the Strawberry Hill Press (1973 ed.), no. 30, copy 12.
Subject (Name):
Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797 and Strawberry Hill (Twickenham, London, England)
Subject (Topic):
Homes and haunts, Arms & armament, Shields, and Interiors
"Portrait; half-length directed slightly to right, head tilted to left and glancing towards the viewer, in Van Dyck shepherdess dress with a crook, her hair dressed up with pearls and tresses over her shoulders; in an oval stone frame."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from published state in the British Museum., Printmaker, date of publication and publisher from the British Museum online catalogue, 2010,7081.2659., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and With curator's pencilled note: H. Walpole's wrtiting. From Gulston collection.
Publisher:
S. Okey
Subject (Name):
Coventry, Maria Gunning Coventry, Countess of, 1733-1760,
Volume 1, page 32. Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Three young women dancing holding their hands, within oval; young boy seated on carved stone playing flute on left, landscape in the background, after Henry Bunbury."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title, artist and printmaker from the British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1917,1208.951., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Mounted on page 32 in volume 1 of: Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs., and Statements of responsibility added in ink below image: H. Bunbury Esqr. delint. ; engraved by F. Bartolozzi.
Publisher:
Publish'd April 10th, 1782, by W. Dickinson, engraver & printseller, No. 158 New Bond Street
Bretherton, James, approximately 1730-1806, printmaker
Published / Created:
[9 March 1788]
Call Number:
Folio 75 B87 770 (Oversize)
Collection Title:
Volume 2, page 59. Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs. Page 133. Bunbury
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Figures grouped around the body of the Count on a bed, his face obscured by the canopy, his lover kneeling over him and holding his hand, a man seen from the back kneeling in prayer before the bed and a small boy carrying a bowl and towel at the end, in the foreground at left a guard stands sentry; after Bunbury."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title, artist, printmaker, and publication information from lettered state., State before letters. For a later state with title, statements of responsibility, imprint, and dedication etched below image, see British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1917,1208.2993., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Mounted on page 133 of: Bunbury album., and 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored; sheet 45.1 x 55.8 cm
Publisher:
James Bretherton
Subject (Topic):
Deathbeds, Canopy beds, Wounds & injuries, Prayer, and Guards
Bretherton, James, approximately 1730-1806, printmaker
Published / Created:
[9 March 1788]
Call Number:
Folio 49 3563 v.2 (Oversize)
Collection Title:
Volume 2, page 59. Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs. Page 133. Bunbury
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Figures grouped around the body of the Count on a bed, his face obscured by the canopy, his lover kneeling over him and holding his hand, a man seen from the back kneeling in prayer before the bed and a small boy carrying a bowl and towel at the end, in the foreground at left a guard stands sentry; after Bunbury."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title, artist, printmaker, and publication information from lettered state., State before letters. For a later state with title, statements of responsibility, imprint, and dedication etched below image, see British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1917,1208.2993., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Mounted on page 59 in volume 2 of: Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs., and Ink annotations in lower margin provide the title "The Count de Peltzer mortally wounded by some Austrian foragers on the eve of his marriage", the statements of responsibility "Mr. Bunbury del. ; J. Bretherton f.", and the publication line "Publish'd 9th March 1788".
Publisher:
James Bretherton
Subject (Topic):
Deathbeds, Canopy beds, Wounds & injuries, Prayer, and Guards
Volume 1, page 33. Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"A man on horseback in a street with his arms around two women, one of whom is crying at right, an old lady sat in profile in the foreground holding a bunch of flowers and a dog drinking from a fountain behind, a man watching the farewell with crossed arms at left, a church building behind a high wall before which a carriage is waiting behind; circular design, after Henry William Bunbury."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text on later state., State before title and verses added below image. For the final state, see British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1872,0511.128., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Mounted on page 33 in volume 1 of: Etchings by Henry William Bunbury, Esq. and after his designs., and Sheet annotated by Horace Walpole in ink below image: Departure of La Fleur from Montreuil in Sterne's Sentimental Journey.
Publisher:
Publish'd May 28th, 1781, by Watson & Dickinson, No. 158 New Bond Street