785.06.28.01 Framed, shelved in Object Room Rack 1.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"An evening scene in Vauxhall Gardens. On the extreme left is the orchestra with the organ behind and performers on the kettledrums, string and wind instruments. The vocalist, Mrs. Weichsel, sings, in profile to the right, from the adjacent (and slightly lower) balcony, just above the heads of the crowd. A violinist and another musician are seated behind her. In the supper box beneath the orchestra is Dr. Johnson seated full-face, between Boswell and Goldsmith (d. 1774), who face each other in profile, both caricatured; of two stout women one is reputed to be Mrs. Thrale. Many groups fill the foreground and middle distance. The two centre figures are the Duchess of Devonshire and Lady Duncannon arm in arm. A naval officer with a wooden leg and a patch over one eye is reputed to be Admiral Paisley (Admiral Pasley, 1734-1808?). Major Topham, an excellent portrait, stands (left) in profile to the right staring through an eyeglass. Between Topham and the supper-box are two men, one of whom is identified as Lord Camelford. [In the reproduction in Angelo's 'Reminiscences'; to whom the name refers is not clear.] An elderly parson, [he closely resembles the parson of BMSat 7059 who is probably William Jackson of the 'Morning Post'] reputed to be Bate Dudley but not resembling him, gazes at the Duchess from behind a tree. Next him a man dressed as an officer in a Highland regiment with kilt and broadsword is supposed to be James Perry, editor of the 'Morning Chronicle'. On the right the Prince of Wales, conspicuous by his star, whispers to Mrs. Robinson (Perdita), though their liaison was ended. Her right arm is linked with an ugly and elderly little man, probably Robinson. On the extreme left an elderly couple advance arm in arm in profile. Behind the Prince is a group standing on a small platform (or tables), showing half length above the crowd. In the foreground (right) is a supper-table under trees where two cits entertain two courtesans. Lamp-lit trees and the covered way form a background on the right."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Vauxhall
Description:
Title from item. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Publish'd June 28th 1785, by J.R. Smith, No. 83 Oxford Street
Subject (Geographic):
Vauxhall Gardens (London, England), London (England), England, and London.
Subject (Name):
Billington, Elizabeth, 1765-1818., Boswell, James, 1740-1795, Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806, Bessborough, Henrietta Frances Spencer Ponsonby, Countess of, 1761-1821, Pitt, Thomas, Baron Camelford, 1737-1793, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Goldsmith, Oliver, 1730?-1774, Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784, Pasley, Thomas, Sir, 1734-1808, Perry, James, 1756-1821, Piozzi, Hester Lynch, 1741-1821, Robinson, Mary, 1758-1800, and Topham, Edward, 1751-1820
Subject (Topic):
Social life and customs, Parks, Audiences, Concerts, Couples, Crowds, Musicians, Orchestras, Peg legs, and Singers
"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
"Johnson and Boswell walk diagonally from the right towards the spectator. Boswell (right) walks jauntily, holding out a three-cornered hat and looking up at Johnson. Johnson holds his oak stick, and looks down at Boswell, putting his finger to his nose. Behind them a row of six-storied houses recedes in perspective."--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 and I walked arm in arm up the High Street to my house in James Court; it was a dusky night ..." Vide Journal p. 13., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and In mss. in lower right corner: E-145.
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, and Boswell, James, 1740-1795.
"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.
On the left the ghost of Samuel Johnson, in a great swirl of billowing clouds, appears before a startled James Boswell, right hand raised in alarm, who is seated at a table strewn with papers and remnants. In his hand he holds a cushion labeled "Hebrides." Behind him on the wall are two shelves of books, many of which are identified by author and title, or numbered, perhaps a reference to his journals that were the basis of his Life of Samuel Johnson. Below the shelves is a framed portrait of Boswell. A quotation from William Congreve's The Way of the World, Act iv, Scene 9 is engraved below the image
Description:
Title and imprint from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Three lines of verse from "Congreve's Way of the world, Act IV, Scene 9", below title, beginning: Thou art a retailer of phrases ..., and A later copy of No. 8281 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Boswell, James, 1740-1795., Boswell, James, 1740-1795, and Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784
