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Giovanni Battista Cipriani's original etching, "Portrait of John Milton as a Child" is based upon a painting by Cornelius Johnson in Hollis's collection. The verse along the lower margin is from John Milton's "Paradise Regained", Book One. Etched in 1760 by Giovanni Battista Cipriani, Portrait of John Milton as a Child was commissioned by Thomas Hollis (1720-1774) for use in his edition of John Toland's Life of Milton published in 1761. The plate was later re-issued in 1780 for Memoirs of Thomas Hollis by Francis Blackburne. According to Francis Blackburne; "The prints were engraved at the expense of Mr. Hollis, and presented in sets to his friends, were of Edmund Ludlow; John Milton, the boy; the same at twenty-one years of age; the same from a bust in plaster; the same from a crayon of Tolande's John Milton victorious of Salmasus; Algernon Sydney; Andrew Marvell; John Locke, John Milton, Thomas Hollis, Dr. John Wallis: all by Cipriani.", Pg 503. Then in 1794, the plate was re-issued by John and Josiah Boydell & G. Nicol for the first edition of The Poetical Works of John Milton. This original Giovanni Battista Cipriani is printed upon eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as published in London for the 1794 Boydell edition. It is a fine, original example of the eighteenth century art created by the Italian / British artist, Giovanni Battista Cipriani. |
Title: | Portrait of John Milton as a Child |
Painter: | Conelius Johnson 'Cornelis Janssens', 'Cornelius Jansens' (1585-1638) |
Etcher: | Cipriani, Giovanni Battista (Florence, Italy, 1727 - London (Hammersmith), 1785) |
Date: | c. 1760 |
Medium: | Original Etching |
Publisher | Thomas Hollis (J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol Edition, 1794) |
Source: | The Poetical Works of John Milton |
Note: | Giovanni Battista Cipriani: In many ways Giovanni Battista Cipriani is as important to the development of British graphic art of the latter eighteenth century as his fellow Italian contemporary, Francesco Bartolozzi. Giovanni Cipriani was a pupil with Bartolozzi at the art school of Ignatius Hugford, in Florence. In 1750 he went to Rome to complete his education. He then returned to Florence and painted commissioned works for the convent of Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi. Cipriani came to England in 1755. Several years later his childhood companion, Bartolozzi, arrived in London and the two artists began producing many great collaborative works of art which Cipriani designed and Bartolozzi and pupils engraved. |
G. B. Cipriani also developed a considerable reputation as a painter and archivist. In this latter category, he restored valuable paintings and murals by Rubens and Varrio. In 1768 he became a founding member of the Royal Academy and designed that institution's diploma. Giovanni Battista Cipriani died in Hammersmith in 1785 and was buried in Chelsea. There, a monument to his memory was designed and erected by Francesco Bartolozzi. | |
Known mainly for his fine drawings and paintings, Giovanni Battista Cipriani etched only a handful of plates. This original etching entitled, Portrait of John Milton as a Child is based upon a picture painted by Cornelius Johnson which was in the possession of Thomas Hollis at the time. | |
John Milton (British, 1608 - 1674): John Milton is considered one of England's most significant poets. He created such masterworks as "Paradise Lost", "Samson Agonistes" and "Comus". Milton was first admitted to St. Paul's School and at the age of fifteen, he entered Christ's College with the intention of becoming a priest in the Church of England, a vocation he later rejected. According to the Poetical works of John Milton edited by David Masson, M.A. LL.D., Professor of Rhetoric and English literature in the University of Edinburgh, Volume 1, published by Macmillan and Co., New York 1890, Milton wrote various poems in 1626, such as Elegia Prima, Elegia Tertia, Elegia Secunda, and continued this set with Elegia Quarta (1627), Elegia Quinta (1627), Elegia Septima (1828) , and others. in 1626, two years before receiving his bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees, Milton wrote his first major English poem, On the Death of a Fair Infant, Dying of the Cough. The poem relates to the death of his infant sister's death. On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, was written in 1629. John Milton left Cambridge University in 1632 and that same year, he composed the finest and most classic of his minor English poems. L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, followed by Arcades (1633), Comus (1634), first published under the title, A Masque, Presented at Ludlow Castle and Lycidas in (1637) written after the death of his former fellow collegian at Cambridge, Edward King. By 1952, Milton was totally blind. Inspired by the biblical story of the Creation, the fall of Adam and Eve, the rebellion of Satan against God and Satan cast out of heaven, Milton had his great epic, Paradise Lost published in 1667, a masterpiece which tells of the fall of Satan and the rebel angels, and that of Adam and Eve, etc. In 1671, a continuation to Milton's last great work, a shorter epic and supplement to Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, which tells of Satan's temptation of Christ in the desert and the rejection by Jesus of Satan's temptation. John Milton wrote a few more works before his death, they include, Samson Agonistes which is believed to go back to the 1640's or may be one of his last works, Art of Logic (1672), Of True Religion (1673), and the year he died, 1674, he wrote Epistolae Familiares. | |
At the end of the 18th century, John Milton, was honored by John Boydell with The Poetical Works of John Milton, published in three parts, 1794, 1795 and 1797. Sparing no expense, Boydell commissioned George Romney to design a portrait plate and Richard Westall to design images illustrating each part of "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained" as well as the more famous individual poems. The engravers included Luigi Schiavonetti, Richard Earlom, Charles Bestland, Thomas Kirk, J. P. Simon, Benjamin Smith, M. Haughton, Dutterau and John Ogborne. Boydell also commissioned William Nelson Gardiner to create the various portraits of John Milton at different stages of his life, John Milton, Age 21 and John Milton, Age 62 are two of the MIlton portraits Gardiner created for Boydell. Giovanni Battista Cipriani's four portraits of John Milton (British, 1608 - 1674) at various stages of his life etched that were originally commissioned by Thomas Hollis (1720-1774) for use in his 1761 edition of John Toland's Life of Milton were also included in the first edition of J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol's, The Poetical Works of John Milton, published in 1794. | |
The excerpt underneath this original Giovanni Battista Cipriani etching reads;
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Thomas Hollis (1720-1774): Thomas Hollis was a libertarian writer, bibliophile, a propagandist for liberty, a radical Whiggism, as well as a patron of the arts. He sponsored many “Liberty Prints’during his lifetime, such as the portraits of such famous literary men as, John Milton, Andrew Marvell, Algernon Sidney, Edmund Ludlow and John Locke. The four etched portraits depicting John Milton at various stages of life originally appeared in John Toland's Life of Milton in 1761 and later republished in Francis Blackburne's Memoirs of Thomas Hollis (J. Nicholls, London, 1780). Hollis practice law from 1740 to 1748. While in Europe, it is said he socialized with French philosophers and Italian painters such as Canaletto and Piranesi. His main concern, an interest that consumed his life was to protect and advance English liberty, which he accomplished by circulating books on government. In 1754, Thomas Hollis began to reprint and distribute literature from the seventeenth century, including works such as tracts by Marchmont Nedham, Henry Neville, and Philip Sidney, John Lock's Two Treatises of Government & John Toland’s Life of Milton, which is where this original etching of John Milton as a child first appeared. | |
Edition: | Portrait of John Milton as a Child was originally commissioned by Thomas Hollis (1720-1774) for use in his edition of John Toland's Life of Milton published in 1761. The plate was later re-issued in 1780 for Memoirs of Thomas Hollis by Francis Blackburne, London, J. Nicholls. The National Portrait Gallery, London, contains a 1780 second impression of the Francis Blackburne edition in their collection. Reference Collection NPG D27946. The British Museum contains a 1761 first published impression of Portrait of John Milton as a Child in their collection, Museum Number: P,4.176. The British Museum also has a portrait of Milton as a child by William Nelson Gardiner, Registration number 1895,0617.479. However, the portrait is not the same as G. B. Cipriani's portrait of Milton originally created for John Toland's Life of Milton published in 1761, facing slightly right surrounded by the oval wreath of roses with the Liberty Bell centered at the bottom, Gardiner's portrait is displayed within a simple oval frame and facing slightly left, lettered with the title by "Aetat 10", and production detail, "Cornelius Janssens pinxit / W. N. Gardiner Sculpt / From an original picture in the collection of Thos. Brand Hollis Esqir near the Hyde Essex /Published June 4 1794 by John and Josiah Boydell & Geo. Nicol. Engraved by W. N. Gardiner, the portrait painting of Milton at the age of ten by Cornelis Janssens (1585-1638), also spelt 'Jansens' & 'Johnsons', remained in the possession of Milton's third wife until 1727. While the painting was in the possession of the family, it was engraved by J. B. Cipriani and W. N. Gardiner and was eventually passed on through the executors to Thomas Hollis an successors in his estate. In 1794, the four Milton portrait plates by Giovanni Battista Cipriani that were originally commissioned by Thomas Hollis for use in his edition of John Toland's 1761 Life of Milton were re-issued by John and Josiah Boydell & G. Nicol for the first edition of The Poetical Works of John Milton. Boydell also included the Cipriani portraits of Algernon Sydney, Andrew Marvelas and Edmund Ludlow, as well as two of William Nelson Gardiner's portraits, John Milton, Age 21 and John Milton, Age 62. "The Memoirs of Thomas Hollis, Volume 1 by Francis Blackburne states; "The prints which were engraved at the expense of Mr. Hollis, and presented in sets to his friends, were of Edmund Ludlow; John Milton, the boy; the same at twenty-one years of age; the same from a bust in plaster; the same from a crayon of Toland's John Milton victorious of Salmasus; Algernon Sydney; Andrew Marvell; John Milton, John Locke, Thomas Hollis, Dr. John Wallis: all by Cipriani.", Pg 503. This original G. B. Cipriani etching entitled, Portrait of John Milton as a Child was published in 1794 by J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol for the first edition of The Poetical Works of John Milton, from the original plate commissioned by Thomas Hollis. Although many the plates were missing from the set, this etching was still bound into volume 1. |
Size: | 10 1/2 x 7 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
Matted with 100% Archival Materials | |
Buy Now | Price: $295.00 US |
Condition: | Printed upon eighteenth century hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as published by J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol in 1794. Containing some foxing else a strong, early impression and in very good condition throughout. "Portrait of John Milton as a Child" represents a superb, original example of the famous eighteenth century art of Giovanni Battista Cipriani. |
Subject: | Giovanni Battista Cipriani, Giovanni Cipriani, "Portrait of John Milton as a Child", original etching, Cornelius Johnson, Royal Academy Diploma, John Milton (1608-1674), Thomas Hollis, John and Josiah Boydell, The Poetical Works of John Milton., When I was yet a child, John Toland's Life of Milton published in 1761, Memoirs of Thomas Hollis by Francis Blackburne, London, J. Nicholls, 1880. |
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Original Etching by the Italian / British artist, Giovanni Battista Cipriani.
Portrait of John Milton as a Child |
View other Original works of art by Giovanni Battista Cipriani.
Giovanni Battista Cipriani (Florence, Italy, 1727 - London (Hammersmith), 1785) | ||||||
# | Image | Title & Artist | Medium | Date | Publisher | - |
01.- | Love and Fortune by Francesco Bartolozzi designed by Giovanni Battista Cipriani | Original Hand-Coloured Etching & Stipple Engraving | 1800 | Rudolph Ackermann, London | Sold | |
02.- | Portrait of John Milton as a Child by Giovanni Battista Cipriani | Original Etching | 1760 | Thomas Hollis (J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol Edition, 1794) | ||
03.- | Portrait of John Milton as a Young Man by Giovanni Battista Cipriani | Original Etching | 1760 | Thomas Hollis (J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol Edition, 1794) | ||
04.- | Portrait of John Milton in Old Age by Giovanni Battista Cipriani | Original Etching | 1760 | Thomas Hollis (J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol Edition, 1794) |
View other original engravings published by John and Josiah Boydell for "The Poetical Works of John Milton".
The Poetical Works of John Milton | ||||||
Designed by Richard Westall | ||||||
# | Image | Title & Engraver | Engraver Info | Medium | Date | - |
01.- | Comus: Sabrina Releasing the Lady from her Spell by John Ogborne | John Ogborne (Chelmsford, 1755 - London, 1837) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | Available | |
02.- | - | Comus: The Forest Scene by Benjamin Smith | Benjamin Smith (London, 1754 - 1833) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | -- |
03.- | - | Comus: The Temptation Scene by Benjamin Smith | Benjamin Smith (London, 1754 - 1833) & Benjamin Duterrau (1767 - 1851) |
Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | -- |
04.- | - | Elegia Quinta by Thomas Kirk | Thomas Kirk (London, Died, 1797) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | -- |
05.- | Hymn to the Nativity by Jean Pierre Simon | Jean Pierre Simon, 'John Peter Simon' (London, 1750 - Paris, c. 1810) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | Available | |
06.- | - | Il Penseroso by John Ogborne | John Ogborne (Chelmsford, 1755 - London, 1837) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | -- |
07.- | On the Death of a Fair Infant by Benjamin Smith | Benjamin Smith (London, 1754 - 1833) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1794 | Available | |
08.- | - | L'Allegro by Thomas Kirk | Thomas Kirk (London, Died, 1797) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | -- |
09.- | Lycidas (A poem by John Milton), by Benjamin Smith | Benjamin Smith (London, 1754 - 1833) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | Available | |
10.- | - | Milton and his two Daughters by Benjamin Smith | Benjamin Smith (London, 1754 - 1833) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1797 | -- |
11.- | Paradise Lost: Adam and Eve Banished from Paradise by Benjamin Smith | Benjamin Smith (London, 1754 - 1833) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Available | |
12.- | Paradise Lost: Adam Awakening Eve by Richard Earlom | Richard Earlom (London, 1743 - 1822) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1794 | Sold | |
13.- | Paradise Lost: Death Leaving the Gates of Hell for the World of Man by John Ogborne | John Ogborne (Chelmsford, 1755 - London, 1837) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Available | |
14.- | Paradise Lost: Eve in the Garden of Eden by Richard Earlom | Richard Earlom (London, 1743 - 1822) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Sold | |
15.- | Paradise Lost: Messiah Routs Satan and his Angels by Luigi Schiavonetti | Luigi Schiavonetti (Bassano, Italy, 1765 - London, 1810) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1794 | Sold | |
16.- | Paradise Lost: Satan Alarmed by Jean Pierre Simon | Jean Pierre Simon, 'John Peter Simon' (London, 1750 - Paris, c. 1810) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1794 | Available | |
17.- | - | Paradise Lost: Satan at the Gates of Hell by Jean Pierre Simon | Jean Pierre Simon, 'John Peter Simon' (London, 1750 - Paris, c. 1810) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1794 | -- |
18.- | - | Paradise Lost: Satan Awakening His Legions by Jean Pierre Simon | Jean Pierre Simon, 'John Peter Simon' (London, 1750 - Paris, c. 1810) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1794 | -- |
19.- | Paradise Lost: The Angel Raphael Relates The Story of Creation to Adam and Eve by Thomas Kirk | Thomas Kirk (London, Died, 1797) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Sold | |
20.- | Paradise Lost: The Temptation of Eve by Thomas Kirk | Thomas Kirk (London, Died, 1797) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Sold | |
21.- | Paradise Regained: Christ and Satan Dispute the Value of Earthly Glory. by William Satchwell Leney | William Satchwell Leney (London, 1769 - Longue Pointe (Montreal), Canada, 1831) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Available | |
22.- | Paradise Regained: Christ in the Wilderness by Moses Haughton Junior | Moses Haughton, Junior (Wednesbury, Staffordshire, c. 1772 - London, 1848) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Available | |
23.- | Paradise Regained: The Fall of Satan by Benjamin Smith | Benjamin Smith (London, 1754 - 1833) | Original Stipple Engraving 'First Edition Impression | 1795 | Available |
Portraits of John Milton (England, 1608 - 1674) | |||||||
# | Image | Title & Artist | Artist Info | Medium | Publisher | Date | - |
01.- | John Milton, Age 21 by William Nelson Gardiner | William Nelson Gardiner (Dublin, 1766 - London, 1814) | Original Stipple Engraving and Etching | John and Josiah Boydell & George Nicol, London | 1794 | Sold | |
02.- | John Milton, Age 62 by William Nelson Gardiner | William Nelson Gardiner (Dublin, 1766 - London, 1814) | Original Stipple Engraving and Etching | John and Josiah Boydell & George Nicol, London | 1794 | ||
03.- | Portrait of John Milton as a Child by Giovanni Battista Cipriani | Giovanni Battista Cipriani (Florence, Italy, 1727 - London (Hammersmith), 1785) | Original Etching | Thomas Hollis (J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol Edition, 1794) | 1760 | ||
04.- | Portrait of John Milton as a Young Man by Giovanni Battista Cipriani | Giovanni Battista Cipriani (Florence, Italy, 1727 - London (Hammersmith), 1785) | Original Etching | Thomas Hollis (J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol Edition, 1794) | 1760 | ||
05.- | Portrait of John Milton in Old Age by Giovanni Battista Cipriani | Giovanni Battista Cipriani (Florence, Italy, 1727 - London (Hammersmith), 1785) | Original Etching | Thomas Hollis (J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol Edition, 1794) | 1760 | ||
06.- | Portion of a Shield (John Milton dictating his epic poem, "Paradise Lost", to his daughter.) by John Alfred Vinter | John Alfred Vinter (London, 1828 - 1905) | Original Lithograph | Day & Son, London | 1852 |
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