London: Printed For Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street., 1824.
Physical Description
2 vols.; 214 mm. (Octavo.)
General Note
Vol. I: xvi, 405, [1] p., frontis. (port). - Vol. II: [iii-]viii, 379, [1] p., [1] pl. The plate carries the number of the page next to which it is to be bound (p.316).
The frontispiece of Vol. I. is signed as painted by Salvator Rosa and engraved by R. Cooper of '9 Pratt Place Camden Town'. It carries the publisher's imprint of Henry Colburn and the date (February 15th 1824). The plate of music in Vol. II is signed as engraved by Sidy. Hall of 'Bury Str. Bloomsby.'
The printer is named on the title-page verso of Vol. I and in the colophons: 'London: Printed By S. And R. Bentley, Dorset Street.'
References
J. Sunderland, 'The legend and influence of Salvator Rosa in England in the eighteenth century', in Burlington magazine, 115 (1973), p.785-9; J. Sunderland, 'John Hamilton Mortimer and Salvator Rosa', in Burlington magazine, 112 (1970), p.520-31. A study of Lady Morgan was L. Stevenson, The wild Irish girl (1936, repr. 1969).
Summary Note
Here Lady Morgan presents Rosa as a romantic genius, himself involved in the lawless banditry which he sometimes depicted. The painter's wild landscapes had always attracted admirers; and in the late 18th and early 19th century his more macabre and exotic subjects were making a strong appeal to artists such as John Hamilton Mortimer, Alexander Runciman, Henry Fuseli and George Romney.
The frontispiece of Volume I is captioned, 'Salvator Rosa, From the Original Painting in the possession of Earl Grosvenor'. The plate in Volume II prints the music and texts of 'Two Airs The Words and Music by Salvator Rosa.'
Immediate source of Acquisition
Purchased in, 1867. [See Librarian's Report, RA Annual Report for 1867, p. 26].
Binding Note
19th-century half calf, marbled-papered boards; green morocco spine-labels lettered 'Life And Times Of Salvator Rosa', spines lettered Vol. I. (II.)
Painters - Artists - Painting - Italy - Lazio - Rome - Tuscany - Florence - History - 17th century
Biography - Art history - Great Britain - 19th century