DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73058#0064
Bartolozzi and his Bjorks.
public as he had done before on Bartolozzi's good nature. The following example of his (or some other person's) work
is in the collection of the writer :—"The Duchess of C -giving her Daughter to Count Belmire," engraved by
G. Testolini, after Rigaud. The source of illustration is from Madame le Genlis's Lettres sur ^education. Published
June I, 1790, by Molteno, Colnaghi & Co., 132, Pall Mall.
four years; but when he and Bartolozzi quarrelled, the latter cancelled and erased the
major part of what Testolini had done. The plate was also worked upon considerably
by Delattre, one of Bartolozzi's pupils and regular assistants. Delattre was afterwards
commissioned by Copley to make a smaller engraving of the same subject, for which the
latter agreed to pay 600 guineas, a contract which he afterwards repudiated, refusing to
receive the plate, as being of inferior workmanship {vide " Memoirs and Recollections of
Abraham Raimbach," privately printed, 1843). Delattre brought an action against him to
recover the amount, and won his suit. The witnesses at the trial were equal in number
—thirteen on each side,—and consisted of painters, engravers, and publishers ; the painters
mostly giving their support to Copley, and the engravers, with Bartolozzi at their head,
to Delattre. The work, though paid for, was withdrawn from publication.*
* The plate is somewhat smaller and much more coarsely finished than that engraved by Bartolozzi, and is lettered
as follows: The Death of the Earl of Chatham: % S. Copley, pinxit ; % M. Delatffire, sculfesit; F.
Bartolozzi, direxit. According to the publication line, it was issued on March 1st, 1820, by that eccentric printseller,
William Johnstone White, of 14, Brownlow Street, Holborn, London, into whose hands it must eventually have fallen,
and at the sale of whose long-treasured stock, by Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods, in the summer of 1879, some
impressions appeared.
The drawing from the original picture for Bartolozzi's use in copying was executed in
water colours by Henry, youngest son of Cipriani. It was said to be most carefully made,
and the copyist received a hundred guineas and considerable praise. Henry Cipriani,
afterwards forsaking art, accepted a commission in the Huntingdonshire Militia, and
subsequently held a clerkship in the Treasury, and on his appointment as Exon in the
Court of Gentlemen Pensioners, received the honour of knighthood.
The circumstances attending the death of the Earl of Chatham are minutely described
by William Belsham, the essayist and historian ; and we gather that on the last day of the
public life of this renowned statesman he was dressed in a rich suit of black velvet, with
his wig, and covered up to the knees in flannel, but so feeble that he had to be led into the
House by his son and son-in-law, Mr. William Pitt and Lord Viscount Mahon, the members
respectfully standing up on his appearance, and making a lane for him to pass to the Earl's
bench. He was pale and fearfully emaciated, and in his speech following that of the Duke
of Richmond, he lamented that his bodily infirmities had so long, and at so important a
crisis, prevented his attendance on the duties of Parliament : he declared he had made an
effort almost beyond his physical capacity in venturing down to the House on that day,
perhaps the last time he should ever be able to enter its walls. He made an impassioned
speech, and was followed by the Duke of Richmond, who spoke again. After which Lord
Chatham, appearing to labour under intense excitement, made a great effort to rise and give
vent to his feelings ; but before he could utter a word he was seized with a convulsive fit,
and pressing his hand to his chest was only prevented falling prostrate by the Duke of
Cumberland and others standing near, who caught him in their arms. The House was at
46 once
public as he had done before on Bartolozzi's good nature. The following example of his (or some other person's) work
is in the collection of the writer :—"The Duchess of C -giving her Daughter to Count Belmire," engraved by
G. Testolini, after Rigaud. The source of illustration is from Madame le Genlis's Lettres sur ^education. Published
June I, 1790, by Molteno, Colnaghi & Co., 132, Pall Mall.
four years; but when he and Bartolozzi quarrelled, the latter cancelled and erased the
major part of what Testolini had done. The plate was also worked upon considerably
by Delattre, one of Bartolozzi's pupils and regular assistants. Delattre was afterwards
commissioned by Copley to make a smaller engraving of the same subject, for which the
latter agreed to pay 600 guineas, a contract which he afterwards repudiated, refusing to
receive the plate, as being of inferior workmanship {vide " Memoirs and Recollections of
Abraham Raimbach," privately printed, 1843). Delattre brought an action against him to
recover the amount, and won his suit. The witnesses at the trial were equal in number
—thirteen on each side,—and consisted of painters, engravers, and publishers ; the painters
mostly giving their support to Copley, and the engravers, with Bartolozzi at their head,
to Delattre. The work, though paid for, was withdrawn from publication.*
* The plate is somewhat smaller and much more coarsely finished than that engraved by Bartolozzi, and is lettered
as follows: The Death of the Earl of Chatham: % S. Copley, pinxit ; % M. Delatffire, sculfesit; F.
Bartolozzi, direxit. According to the publication line, it was issued on March 1st, 1820, by that eccentric printseller,
William Johnstone White, of 14, Brownlow Street, Holborn, London, into whose hands it must eventually have fallen,
and at the sale of whose long-treasured stock, by Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods, in the summer of 1879, some
impressions appeared.
The drawing from the original picture for Bartolozzi's use in copying was executed in
water colours by Henry, youngest son of Cipriani. It was said to be most carefully made,
and the copyist received a hundred guineas and considerable praise. Henry Cipriani,
afterwards forsaking art, accepted a commission in the Huntingdonshire Militia, and
subsequently held a clerkship in the Treasury, and on his appointment as Exon in the
Court of Gentlemen Pensioners, received the honour of knighthood.
The circumstances attending the death of the Earl of Chatham are minutely described
by William Belsham, the essayist and historian ; and we gather that on the last day of the
public life of this renowned statesman he was dressed in a rich suit of black velvet, with
his wig, and covered up to the knees in flannel, but so feeble that he had to be led into the
House by his son and son-in-law, Mr. William Pitt and Lord Viscount Mahon, the members
respectfully standing up on his appearance, and making a lane for him to pass to the Earl's
bench. He was pale and fearfully emaciated, and in his speech following that of the Duke
of Richmond, he lamented that his bodily infirmities had so long, and at so important a
crisis, prevented his attendance on the duties of Parliament : he declared he had made an
effort almost beyond his physical capacity in venturing down to the House on that day,
perhaps the last time he should ever be able to enter its walls. He made an impassioned
speech, and was followed by the Duke of Richmond, who spoke again. After which Lord
Chatham, appearing to labour under intense excitement, made a great effort to rise and give
vent to his feelings ; but before he could utter a word he was seized with a convulsive fit,
and pressing his hand to his chest was only prevented falling prostrate by the Duke of
Cumberland and others standing near, who caught him in their arms. The House was at
46 once