drawing;
print study
- Museum number
- C,3.152
- Description
-
Sheet with sketches of the figure of Tragedy modelled after Sarah Siddons, and a harlequin, to provide directions from the artist Henry William Bunbury to the engraver Bartolozzi of a ticket to Wynnstay Theatre; the figure of Tragedy shown three-quarter length in profile to the left, with long flowing hair, wearing veil, looking up towards a scroll attached to the branch of a tree; below a roughly sketched harlequin shown half length with raised arm, emphasizing the pattern on the jacket; the sketch accompanied by hand-written inscriptions; the sheet folded with a short letter on facing page.
Pen and ink with colour wash
- Production date
- 1785
- Dimensions
-
Height: 235 millimetres
-
Width: 377 millimetres (whole sheet)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- For the ticket as completed after these instructions see 1917,1208.2959 and C,3.153-4. Calabi + De Vesme's catalogue refers to an earlier state of the plate that corresponds with the improvements suggested in this drawing. It states: "Selon le catalogue Woodhouse: 'With curious variations in the figure of Tragedy, Harlequin's dress, and in the spelling of the word Pantomime, very rare, presque unique'. Non vu par nous" (Calabi + De Vesme, 1949.I). It is presumably this state of the plate that Bunbury is referring to in this drawing and inscription.
"Sr W." as found in the inscription is presumably Sir Watkins Williams-Wynn, proprietor of the private theatre at Wynnstay.
The portrait of Mrs Siddons referred to in the inscription is presumably that by John Keyse Sherwin - see 1931,0509.169.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1818
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- C,3.152
