Code: 11201
Dimensions:
"The Sportsman"
After a painting by Benjamin Marshall (1767-1835)
Engraved by George Maile (1800-1842)
Mezzotint and etching on paper
Published by Thomas Gosden
London, Circa 1824
Measures:-
24.7 cm x 17.7 cm (Plate)
30.3 cm x 23.0 cm (Framed)
Portrait of the publisher Thomas Gosden (1780-1843) carrying a gun in his left hand as he prepares to climb over a stile accompanied by two spaniels, woodland beyond. Lettered beneath with the artists' details "Painted by Marshall of Newmarket / Engraved by Maile of London" with the title "The Sportsman" centre and with two verses either side 'Now mounting the hill, to the plain we descend, Still dealing out death as we roam; But softly - the lark's evening song's at an end, Which proclaims it high time to get home" / "Observe too the dogs the position admit, Their fever'd tongues panting assent , And hark ! there's the owl gives us notice to quit, So now for our cot we are bent" "J. Emery T.R.C.G."
The portrait is of Marshall's friend and patron Thomas Gosden who had established "The Sportsman’s Repository" at 18 Bedford Street, Covent Garden; he had started out as a bookbinder but was an accomplished artist himself an published several sporting prints and volumes in collaboration with friends including, in 1820 "The Sportsman's Repository ... representing the Horse and the Dog, in all their Varieties." The title of the picture is therefore highly appropriate. The verse beneath is taken from the poem "The First of September" by the actor, comic and poet John Emery (1777-1822).
Scarce. See BM 1876,1209.229 for similar.
Presented in an antique Hogarth style frame.
Condition:-
In good condition trimmed to the image on three sides and around the text block below with the loss of the Gosden publication line. Small filled loss to the bottom inner gilt slip of the frame.
