Francis Wheatley, R.A. (London 1747-1801)

Illustrations for John Bell's British Theatre

Details

Francis Wheatley, R.A. (London 1747-1801)
Illustrations for John Bell's British Theatre
both signed 'F Wheatley del^t' (lower left), the first indistinctly inscribed 'I should not have known you. I never/saw you wear such cloths [sic] as these/in my mother's lifetime' (lower centre, in a cartouche), the second indistinctly inscribed 'Love in a Village/Will you accept of them for yourself then ...' (lower centre in a cartouche)
pencil, pen and grey ink and watercolour, unframed
5 3/8 x 3½ in. (13.6 x 8.9 cm.) and 5¼ x 3¼ in. (13.4 x 8.3 cm.) (2)

Provenance

Arthur N. Gilbey; Christie's, London, 26 April 1940, lot 236.
with Ellis & Smith, London.
with Gooden & Fox, London.
Geoffrey Harmsworth.

Literature

W. Roberts, F. Wheatley, R.A., London, 1910, p. xxxviii, p. 49.

Engraved

the second Engraved Charles Grignion for Bell's British Theatre, 6 January 1791.

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Lot Essay

The second drawing of the two rustic lovers, young Meadows and Rossetta, was engraved as the title page for Love in a Village, Act 1, Scene 3.

Love in a Village is a three-act Operetta, libretto by Isaac Bickerstaffe and music composed or arranged by Thomas Arne, first performed at The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1762. It has not been possible to identify which work the first drawing illustrates, but it seems likely that it was also for Bell's British Theatre.

We are grateful to Jan Piggott for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.

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