DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1041#0146
History of the Society of Dilettanti 117
The undertaking thus set on foot took shape in
due course in the beautifully executed work entitled
Select Specimens of Antient Sculpture preserved in the
several Collections of Great Britain. It was, as might
be expected, mainly promoted and carried out by
Payne Knight and Townley. The engraving of the
plates occupied eight years, from May, 1799, to
May, 1807. The sixty-three works of art selected
were chiefly taken from the collections of these two
gentlemen, twenty-three being from Mr. Knight's
collection, and twenty-three from Mr. Townley's.
Of the remainder, four came from the Marquess of
Lansdowne's collection, nine from the Earl of
Egremont's, two from Mr. Hope's, and one each
from those of the Earl of Yarborough and the
Earl of Cork. The volume contained seventy-five
plates, exclusive of head and tail pieces, and was
entrusted to the best draughtsmen and engravers
of the day. During its progress the Publication
Committee had been strengthened by the addition,
on February 10, i8oj, of Lord North wick and
Mr. Thomas Hope, and later of the Earl of
Aberdeen,« Athenian Aberdeen.'
The Specimens were ready for publication in 1808, Mode of
about £2,300 having been expended upon the plates. Pu^catl0n-
The Society took a new departure in determining
to issue the volume to the public. In March, 1808,
an agreement was made with Mr. Thomas Payne of
Pall Mall and Mr. John White of Fleet Street,
booksellers, to publish the work on the following
terms. Messrs. Payne and White agreed to purchase
the work and the engraved copperplates for 2,000
guineas, and to print it in Colombier folio in the
most magnificent style 5 and the Committee of
Publication agreed to purchase fifty-five (afterwards
The undertaking thus set on foot took shape in
due course in the beautifully executed work entitled
Select Specimens of Antient Sculpture preserved in the
several Collections of Great Britain. It was, as might
be expected, mainly promoted and carried out by
Payne Knight and Townley. The engraving of the
plates occupied eight years, from May, 1799, to
May, 1807. The sixty-three works of art selected
were chiefly taken from the collections of these two
gentlemen, twenty-three being from Mr. Knight's
collection, and twenty-three from Mr. Townley's.
Of the remainder, four came from the Marquess of
Lansdowne's collection, nine from the Earl of
Egremont's, two from Mr. Hope's, and one each
from those of the Earl of Yarborough and the
Earl of Cork. The volume contained seventy-five
plates, exclusive of head and tail pieces, and was
entrusted to the best draughtsmen and engravers
of the day. During its progress the Publication
Committee had been strengthened by the addition,
on February 10, i8oj, of Lord North wick and
Mr. Thomas Hope, and later of the Earl of
Aberdeen,« Athenian Aberdeen.'
The Specimens were ready for publication in 1808, Mode of
about £2,300 having been expended upon the plates. Pu^catl0n-
The Society took a new departure in determining
to issue the volume to the public. In March, 1808,
an agreement was made with Mr. Thomas Payne of
Pall Mall and Mr. John White of Fleet Street,
booksellers, to publish the work on the following
terms. Messrs. Payne and White agreed to purchase
the work and the engraved copperplates for 2,000
guineas, and to print it in Colombier folio in the
most magnificent style 5 and the Committee of
Publication agreed to purchase fifty-five (afterwards