Designs for illustration to Bell's 'Poets'

Details

Maria Anna Angelica Catherina Kauffmann, R.A. (1741-1807)
Designs for illustration to Bell's 'Poets'
inscribed respectively 'Young Damon came unknowing where he-/stray'd/Full of the Image of his beauteous maid.'; 'SAVAGE./Content from Noise & court-/retires-/And smiling sits, while Muses/tune their Lyres'; and 'Infancy Straining backward from the breasts./And the fond Father sits on t'other/-side/Laughs at his moods & views his-/-Spleen with pride.' (lower centre, within a cartouche)
pencil, pen and grey ink, grey and brown wash, within feigned circles within architectural border, unframed
43/8 x 2¾ in. (11.2 x 7 cm.) (3)

Special Notice

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Lot Essay

The present drawings are three of the original designs by Kauffman that were engraved with slight variations for John Bell of the Strand's Poets, published between 1778 and 1792 in 109 volumes. Executed between 1779 and 1781 they are the frontispieces for the works of Lord Lyttleton, Richard Savage and Churchill. She also designed the frontispiece to vol. 73, David Mallet's 'Amyntor and Theodora', engraved by Bartolozzi.

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