ONE HUNDRED FABLES, Original and Selectedd by Northcote, James R. A - 1828 2021-02-02

London: John and Josiah Boydell, 1795 [1803].. Original copper engraving (60 x 44 cm, overall sheet 68 x 55 cm). Tissue guard to verso. Orange-brown paint [?] speckles across lower half of sheet. From "A Collection of Prints ... Illustrating the Dramatic Works of Shakespeare." published by Boydell, London, 1803. In 1789, the publisher John Boydell opened the Shakespeare Gallery, an exhibition space in London's Pall Mall showcasing paintings that exclusively represented scenes from Shakespeare's plays. The Gallery was a bid to revive 'history painting' (the practice of depicting scenes from the Bible, mythology or the classics) in contemporary British art, a genre thought to be of great public benefit because of its morally instructive messages. What better unifying theme for such a project than the works of Shakespeare, which had become so popular and so integral to British identity by the mid-18th century? The Gallery opened in May 1789 with 34 canvases by 18 British artists. By the next year… Read More

London: John and Josiah Boydell, 1798 [1803].. Original copper engraving (60 x 44 cm, overall sheet 69 x 55 cm). Some foxing to margins, two small (3cm) tears to left margin, not affecting plate. From "A Collection of Prints ... Illustrating the Dramatic Works of Shakespeare." published by Boydell, London, 1803. In 1789, the publisher John Boydell opened the Shakespeare Gallery, an exhibition space in London's Pall Mall showcasing paintings that exclusively represented scenes from Shakespeare's plays. The Gallery was a bid to revive 'history painting' (the practice of depicting scenes from the Bible, mythology or the classics) in contemporary British art, a genre thought to be of great public benefit because of its morally instructive messages. What better unifying theme for such a project than the works of Shakespeare, which had become so popular and so integral to British identity by the mid-18th century? The Gallery opened in May 1789 with 34 canvases by 18 British artists. By the next… Read More

London: John and Josiah Boydell, 1790 [1803].. Original copper engraving (60 x 44 cm, overall sheet 68 x 55 cm). Tissue guard to verso. Very light foxing to outer margins, not affecting plate. From "A Collection of Prints ... Illustrating the Dramatic Works of Shakespeare." published by Boydell, London, 1803. In 1789, the publisher John Boydell opened the Shakespeare Gallery, an exhibition space in London's Pall Mall showcasing paintings that exclusively represented scenes from Shakespeare's plays. The Gallery was a bid to revive 'history painting' (the practice of depicting scenes from the Bible, mythology or the classics) in contemporary British art, a genre thought to be of great public benefit because of its morally instructive messages. What better unifying theme for such a project than the works of Shakespeare, which had become so popular and so integral to British identity by the mid-18th century? The Gallery opened in May 1789 with 34 canvases by 18 British artists. By the next year… Read More

London: Geo. Lawford & John Murray, 1833. Second & First editions. Hardcover. Contemporary crimson cloth decorated in blind, backstrips elaborately decorated in floral gilt motifs. Very good. 2 Vols.. 272 , 248 pages. 20 x 12.5 cm. The illustrations, "the greater portion of which are of my own invention," with his headpiece designs for each one and with initial letters and tailpieces by William Harvey, pupil of Thomas Bewick." James Northcote was one of a number of prominent painters of the 18th century. Today Northcote is chiefly admired for his portraits, though his paintings of animals found favor in his lifetime. In his later years he devoted an increasing amount of time to history paintings, including some scenes from Shakespeare s history plays which were exhibited in Boydell s Shakespeare Gallery. The Second Series of the Fables was published posthumously, Both volumes with Index To The Engravings. Small owner stamp of Rev. J. Troy and small ex-library stamp top right corner of title page,… Read More

London: published by James Daniell & Co, 1799. Mezzotint, printed in colours and finished by hand, by Charles Turner. Rare, coloured issue of this poignant image taken from Aesop's fables. Northcote, who worked as pupil and assistant to Sir Joshua Reynolds for five years from 1771, produced works in a number of genres: portraits, historical and subject pictures, morally instructive scenes and, during the 1790s, animal painting. The present image of the lion (a symbol of strength) tamed by his love for a beautiful maiden is from Aesop's fables: Once, a Lion once fell in love with a lovely young girl. He approached her parents and asked for her hand in marriage. Her parents, not wishing to anger the King of the Beasts, were also unwilling to put their daughter into danger. Her father proposed a marriage contract: "We are honoured by your Majesty's proposal, but fearful for the safety of our daughter, a tender young thing. We fear that in the vehemence of your affection you might possibly do her some… Read More

London: published by J.R. Smith, 1785. Mezzotint and roulette, printed in colours and finished by hand, by John Raphael Smith. A charming image of a family duty and pleasure, ably engraved by one of the greatest mezzotinters of his day. Northcote, who worked as pupil and assistant to Sir Joshua Reynolds for five years from 1771, produced works in a number of genres: portraits, historical and subject pictures, animal painting and morally instructive scenes. The present image shows two young fashionably-dressed young ladies sitting with their grandmother. One completes some sewing that her grandmother's fingers are no longer nibble enough to complete, while her sister reads aloud. Their grandmother, content to have her granddaughters near, sits and quietly knits, listening to the reading. Her cat looks watchfully out at the viewer from the arm of her mistress' chair, an emblem of the peacefulness of the group John Raphael Smith (1752-1812) came to London in about 1767, "and, while still serving as a… Read More