- Museum number
- 1902,1011.2686
- Title
- Object: The Right Honourable William Pitt Esqr
- Description
-
Portrait seated to left at table, three-quarter length, eyes to front, holding letter in his right hand; wearing plain coat with large, buttoned-down cuffs and tightly curled wig; state before plate reduced. c.1754
Mezzotint
- Production date
- 1754
- Dimensions
-
Height: 346 millimetres (subject)
-
Height: 387 millimetres (total, trimmed)
-
Width: 279 millimetres (subject)
-
Width: 280 millimetres (total)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- See also Sheila O'Connell, 'London 1753', BMP 2003, no. 4.22.
This impression answers to Chaloner Smith's description for 92.I. Russell notes that the several impressions of this subject are either from several plates or from a single plate, often reworked. There are marked differences in parts such as the left shirt cuff, buttons and dimensions of the engraved area that support the theory of several plates. It is unusual that there should be several almost identical plates made by the same engraver in a relatively short space of time, however if it is assumed that fewer plates were involved, the reworking must be described as radical.
The impressions in the BM can be divided and collocated with Russell and Chaloner Smith as follows:
1. engraved area 345 x 280 mm, "W. Hoare Pinxt. / R. Houston Fecit. / The Right Honourable William Pitt Esqr, Paymaster General of His Majestys Forces, And One of His Majesty's most honble Privy Council. [scratched] Price 5s. Sold by R Houston at ye Golden Head in Broad Court Covent Garden".
CS 92, Russell 'b', BM: 1902,1011.2686.
proof before letters, inscription space masked, spurious proof?
Russell 'a', BM: 1902,1011.2685.
Chaloner Smith and Russell describe a second state of the above, engraved area H. 322 mm, "Printed for John Bowles & Son at the Black Horse in Cornhill. / W. Hoare pinxt. / R Houston fect. The Right Honourable William Pitt Esqr. One of His Majestys most honble Privy Council.". CS 92.II, Russell 'e'.
2. engraved area 320 x 259 mm, "W. Hoare Pinxt. / R. Houston Fecit. / The Right Honourable William Pitt Esqr,, One of His Majesty's Principal Secretary's of State, And one of His Majesty's most Honble,, Privy Council. / London Printed for J. Ryall & R. Withy at Hogarths Head, in Fleet Street, & R. Houston, at Charing Cross."
Russell 'c', BM: 1902,1011.2687.
The inscription is printed on a separate plate (33 x 245 mm). Russell suggests this is a reduced version of CS 92, with the inscription masking the lower edge of the subject. As the inscription plate is narrower than the subject plate it is evident that the latter must also have been reduced, and there are differences, for example in the engraved lines on the right shirt cuff, which suggest that it is in fact a different plate altogether.
The publication line suggests a date in the early 1760s.
3. engraved area 324 x 255 mm, inscription space not fully cleared "W. Hoare pinxt. / Printed for John Bowles' - at the Black Horse in Cornhill / R. Houston fect. / The Right Honourable William Pitt Esqr. One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, And One of His Majesty's most honble. Privy Council."
Russell 'd', BM: 1902,1011.2688, 1970,
The publication line suggests a date of c. 1760 - 63.
4. engraved area 320 x 251 mm, "The Right Honourable William Pitt Esqr. One of his Majesty's Principal Secretary's of State, And One of His Majesty's most Honble. Privy Council / Sold by Jno. Bowles & Son at the Black Horse in Cornhill".
Russell 'f', BM: 1902,1011.2689
The publication line suggests a date of c. 1753-60
5. engraved area 317 x 251 mm, "W. Hoare pinxit / Carington Bowles excudit. / R. Houston fecit / The Right Honble. William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, Viscount Pitt of Burton-Pynsent; Lord Privy Seal. One of the Lords of His Majestys most Honble. Privy Council. F.R.S. / 279 / Printed for Carington Bowles, No. 69 in St. Pauls Church Yard. London. Publish'd as the Act directs".
Russell 'i', BM: 1902,1011.2690.
Russell cites an earlier state of the same plate, without the number 279. Russell 'h'.
The description of the sitter suggests a date of c. 1766.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1902
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1902,1011.2686