A Catalogue Of The Pictures, &c. In The Shakspeare Gallery, Pall-Mall.
RA Collection: Book
Record number
07/1176
Imprint
London:: Printed For The Proprietors, And Sold At The Place Of Exhibition, M,DCC,XCII.
Physical Description
xiv, [2], 190, [2] p.; 195 mm. (Quarto.)
Contents
[T.p.] - Preface. 1789. (by John Boydell) - Advertisement. 1790. (by John Boydell, Josiah Boydell, George Nicol) - The Alto-Rilievo, In the Front of the Gallery ... - Pictures In The Shakspeare Gallery. No.I.(-XXXIX.) - 1790. No. XXXV(-LVI) - 1791. No. LVII(-LXV) - 1792. No. LXVI(-LXXVIII); The Infant Shakspeare ... Painted by Mr. Romney - Basso-Relievos, by the Honourable Mrs. Damer. No.I.(-III.) - [Publishers' advertisement, 'Milton'].
References
W. Pope and F. Benwick, edd., The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery (1996); S. Bruntjen, John Boydell (1985); W.H. Friedman, Boydell's Shakspeare Gallery (1976).
Summary Note
Revised versions of this catalogue were issued between 1789 and 1796 as the Shakspeare Gallery itself grew. This edition has divisional headings carrying the dates of 1789, 1790, 1791 and 1792, and the adevrtisement for the publishers' 'Milton' concludes, 'The Third Number of the Shakspeare is nearly finished, and is proposed to be published in a few months (this is possibly the version described in ESTC T76469).
The Shakspeare Gallery was set up by John Boydell in 1789 to show paintings after scenes in Shakespeare's plays, by Barry, Fuseli, Northcote, Reynolds, Romney and others. Prints from the paintings were also sold from the Gallery. Although catalogues sold well, the ambitious scheme was not a success, and at the time of John Boydell's death plans were afoot to sell off the paintings by lottery.
Reproductions
An electronic reproduction was published in 2003 (Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale). A microfilm copy was published in 1986 (Woodbridge CT: Research Publications).
Provenance
The front pastedown is inscribed in pencil 'S:A:H', i.e. S.A. Hart, librarian of the Royal Academy 1864-81.
Binding Note
Contemporary diced calf; gilt-decorated spine, black morocco spine-labels lettered 'Catalogue Of Pictures Shakspeare Gallery' and 'Boydell 1792'.
History paintings - Narrative art - Great Britain - History - 18th century
Exhibitions - Great Britain - London - 18th century
Catalogues - Great Britain - 18th century