A conversation piece: John Rich and his family relaxing in the gardens at Cowley; three men on the right stand admiring a painting; two women on the left sit by the table in conversation, behind John Rich who reclines on pillows on grass, an open book to his left and large pitcher in front of him; after Hogarth; illustration to Nichols' and Steevens' 'The Genuine Works of William Hogarth' (1810).
Description:
Title etched below image., Text following title: From an original painting in the possession of Abrm. Langford Esqr., Plate from: Nichols, J. The genuine works of William Hogarth., and Found in Filbrigg, p. 235 (iii).
"Satire on John Rich and his new theatre in Covent Garden with a procession moving from left to right across the east end of the market square and entering the colonnade leading to the theatre. John Gay is carried on a porter's back preceded by a crowd, one of whom cries "Gay for ever". He is followed by Rich, as Harlequin, driving an open carriage drawn by six satyrs, with Columbine and a spotted dog (a disguise adopted by Rich as Harlequin in "Perseus and Andromeda", 1730). Two authors bow obsequiously to Rich, another wheels a barrow of plays towards the theatre, bootblacks also bow, but in the lower right-hand corner, Alexander Pope defecates on sheets from the Beggar's Opera (the great triumph of Rich and Gay). Actors in costume, some identified in the verses below, follow the carriage, and a cart containing properties including "A Box of Thunder and Lightening", brings up the rear. Beyond the main procession is a large crowd of admirers and a closed carriage; St Paul's church in the background is clearly identifiable."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
His triumphant entry into Covent-Garden
Description:
Title etched above image., Signed twice: once in the shadowing lower left of design (illegible) and again above first stanza., Formerly attributed to Hogarth. See Paulson., First recorded as having been published in 1811 by Robert Wilkinson. See British Museum online catalogue., "Price 6d."--Lower right., Three columns of ten lines each etched below image: Not with more glory through the streets of Rome ... For such a day he sees not ev'ry year., In Steevens's hand in pencil above the print: A pretended Hogarth which nevertheless has sold for £4.4.0. See Nicholss book, 3d edit. p. 161., and On page 54 in volume 1.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Covent Garden (London, England)
Subject (Name):
St. Paul's Church (Covent Garden, London, England),, Gay, John, 1685-1732,, Hall, John, active 1734,, Quin, James, 1693-1766,, Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744,, Rich, John, 1692-1761,, Ryan, Lacy, 1694?-1760,, and Walker, Thomas, 1698-1744,
