Engravings And Etchings Of The Principal Statues, Busts, Bass-reliefs, Sepulchral Monuments, Cinerary Urns, &c. In The Collection Of Henry Blundell, Esq. At Ince. Vol. I. (II.)
RA Collection: Book
Record number
04/3187
Variant Title
Engravings And Etchings Of Sepulchral Monuments, Cinerary Urns
Imprint
: MDCCCIX.
Physical Description
2 vols.; 560 mm.
General Note
Vol. I: [iv] p., frontis., pl. 1-77. - Vol. II: [iv] p., frontis., pl. [78]-[158]. The following plates do not carry numbers: 78, 127, 130-143, 152-154, 156-158. Plates '153' and '154' have these numbers written in over a printed '145, 146'. The caption of pl. [78] has been bound in as an additional leaf. - In both Volumes most plates, as well as carrying a plate number, carry a catalogue number, which the prefatory note explains as referring 'to a printed catalogue left at Ince for the use of visitors'.
The author of the prefatory note appears to be the owner of the collection.
The two frontispieces and most plates are unsigned. But six carry the name of a draughtsman - Tendi (pl. 151, [152]) or Piroli (pl. 155[-158]) - and a few, that of an engraver or etcher - P. Vitali (pl. 3, 9), Cromek (pl. 84, [132], [140]), 'L.R.' (pl. 96), Basire (pl. 122), W. Skelton (pl. 123), Cardon (pl. 151, [152]) or Piroli (pl. 155[-158]). The prefatory note states that several of the engravings were made before the sculptures left Italy.
References
J. Fejfer and E. Southworth, Ince Blundell collection of classical sculpture, Vol. I. pts. 1, 2 (1991, 1997); E. Southworth, 'The Ince Blundell collection: collecting behaviour in the eighteenth century', in Journal of the history of collecting, 3:2 (1991), p.219-34; G. Vaughan, 'Henry Blundell's sculpture collection at Ince Hall', in Patronage and practice: sculpture on Merseyside, ed. P. Curtis (1989), p.13-21.
A wider survey may be found in J. Scott, The pleasures of antiquity: British collectors of Greece and Rome (2003).
Summary Note
The title of Volume II. reads, 'Engravings and Etchings Of Sepulchral Monuments, Cinerary Urns, Gems, Bronzes, Prints, Greek Inscriptions, Fragments, &c. In The Collection Of Henry Blundell, Esq. At Ince. Vol. II.'
The plates in Volume I show ancient statues, busts, masks - and one modern statue, a Psyche by Canova (pl. 17). Those in Volume II show ancient bas-reliefs (including sarcophagi and votive tablets), a mosaic and architectural fragments, and four modern paintings by 'Spagnolet' (Jusepe de Ribera) (pl. 155-[158]). Most leaves carry a printed caption identifying the object shown - although Blundell remarks in his prefatory note that names of ancient statues 'are often given them by caprice'.
To house his sculptures Blundell commissioned a neoclassical 'pantheon' and garden 'temple'. After his death the collection passed to the Weld family, who presented it to Liverpool Museum in 1959.
Provenance
Presented to the Academy by Henry Blundell in 1810 (RAA Council Minutes, IV, 190-1, 12 Feb. 1810).
Copy Note
The Academy's copy has bound in before the frontispiece of Volume I a plate showing a portrait of Henry Blundell engraved by E. Scriven after a bust by G. Bullock of 1804.
Binding Note
19th-century red morocco, upper and lower covers having gilt borders with the Blundell crest centre; spine lettered 'Statues At Ince Vol. 1 (2)'.
Sculpture, Greek - Sculpture, Roman - Statues, Greek - Statues, Roman - Bas-reliefs, Greek - Bas-reliefs, Roman
Collections - Great Britain - Lancashire - Ince Blundell - 18th century - 19th century
Catalogues - Great Britain - 19th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 19th century