| Title: |
On the Death of a Fair Infant |
| Engraver: |
Smith, Benjamin (London, 1754 - 1833) |
| Designer: |
Westall, Richard (Hertford, 1765 - London, 1836) |
| Date: |
1797 |
| Medium: |
Original Stipple Engraving |
| Publisher |
J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol, Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall; & No. 90, Cheapside |
| Source: |
The Poetical Works of John Milton |
| Note: |
Benjamin Smith: A great 18th and early nineteenth century engraver, Benjamin Smith studied stippling techniques under Francesco Bartolozzi in London. During his career Smith engraved many fine plates after the designs of contemporary masters such as Hogarth, Beechey and Romney. He also created portrait engravings of such noteworthy individuals as Marquis Cornwallis and George III. Benjamin Smith was frequently commissioned by John Boydell to engrave plates for both his Shakespeare Gallery and for his Milton set. |
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Richard Westall: After attending the Royal Academy schools in London (1785), Richard Westall devoted himself to history and landscape subjects. He was an early practitioner of the watercolour medium and many publishers of illustrated books soon sought his designs for publication of illustrated editions of Gray, Moore, Crabbe and other poets of the day. During the 1790's, Richard Westall was commissioned by Boydell to work upon both the Milton and Shakespeare sets. Richard Westall was elected an Associate of the prestigious Royal Academy in 1792 and a full Academician in 1794. In the 1820's he was appointed the drawing master to then Princess Victoria. |
| |
John Boydell (Shropshire, 1719 - London, 1804):
John Boydell is easily one of England’s most remarkable 18th century personalities. Born in poverty, he began his career as an at best mediocre engraver of small book plates. At this time England was at a very low ebb as a serious centre for the visual arts (particularly engraving) and Boydell sought to eradicate this situation by beginning a second career as a publisher of fine prints. Modest initial experiments in the 1760’s led to a rapid expansion of his business and during the 1770’s he published his striking series of mezzotint engravings, "Liber Veritas", engraved by Richard Earlom after the drawings of Claude Lorrain. This ambitious undertaking put England back on the printmaking map and was a huge financial success for John Boydell. |
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Boydell had now established London as a major centre for the arts and this once poor and struggling engraver/publisher was acknowledged for his efforts by being elected no less than Lord Mayor of London, in 1791. The same year marked the beginning of John Boydell's most grandiose undertaking. His new publishing establishment in Pall Mall, "Shakspeare Gallery", began by commissioning the most esteemed painters and engravers in the country to create and design large and expensive engravings based upon the plays and life of William Shakespeare. By this time as well John Boydell's nephew, Josiah Boydell (1752-1817), had joined the firm. |
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This monumental venture continued until Boydell's death thirteen years later. By that time, "Shakspeare Gallery" had created and published one hundred and seventy engravings on a grand scale. Alas, the expenses for this vast project had been so large that England's foremost publisher of art ended his life the way he began, dying penniless. |
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At this time England's other great literary giant, John Milton, was honoured by Boydell. "The Poetical Works of John Milton" was published in three parts in 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, Thomas Kirk, Jean Pierre Simon, Benjamin Smith, Moses Haughton, Dutterau and John Ogborne. |
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Unlike the Shakespeare engravings, the Milton prints were constructed almost solely in the stipple technique. Stippling reached its golden age in late eighteenth century England. The technique was promoted and taught by Francesco Bartolozzi (Florence, Italy, 1727 - Lisbon, Portugal, 1815). Many of the above mentioned engravers were among his finest students. Briefly, stippling was a tonal method where the image was created not with solid lines but with a multitude of dots or flicks. Under a master's hand, stippling magnificently captured tonal values by contrasting areas of light and shade. Unfortunately it was most laborious and quickly became extinct with advances in aquatint engraving in the early nineteenth century. Yet to this day some of the most subtle and sensual engravings in the history of British art belong to the stipple engravers of the late eighteenth century. |
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As one can easily see, these stipple engravings for Boydell's "The Poetical Works of John Milton" are masterpieces of their kind. Benjamin Smith's "On the Death of a Fair Infant" is a wonderful example of both
the beauty and force of the eighteenth century stipple technique. |
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On the Death of a Fair Infant: This original stipple engraving contains the engraver's name, "B. Smith Sculpt.", the designer's name, "R. Westall, R. A. delt.", title, "Death of a Fair Infant. Page 77.", and publisher's details "Published March 25, 1797 by J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol, Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall; & No. 90, Cheapside." printed below the image. "On the Death of a Fair Infant" is one of John Milton's earliest
published poems. It is believed he wrote this poem at the age of nineteen. It illustrates the first three stanzas. John Milton writes,
"O Fairest flower, no sooner blown but blasted!
Soft silken primrose, fading timelessly,
Summer's chief honour, if thou hadst outlasted
Bleak Winter's force, that made they blossom dry;
For he, being amorous, on that lovely dye,
That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss;
But kill’d, alas, and then bewail’d his fatal bliss.
For since grim Aquilo, his charioteer,
By boisterous rape the Athenian damsel got,
He thought it touch'd his deity full near,
If likewise he some fair one wedded not;
Thereby to wipe away the infamous blot
Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld,
Which, 'mongst the wanton gods, a foul reproach was held.
So, mounting up in icy-pearled car,
Through middle empire of the freezing air,
He wander'd long, till thee he spy'd from far:
There ended was his quest, there ceased his care.
Down he descended, from his snow-soft chair,
But all unawares, with his cold kind embrace,
Unhoused thy virgin soul from her fair biding place." * John Milton
|
| Size: |
12 X 8 1/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
| |
Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
| Buy Now |
Price: $985.00 US |
| Condition: |
Printed upon thick Whatman wove paper and with large, full margins as published by John and Josiah Boydell in Pall Mall in 1797. It contains the engraver's name, "B. Smith Sculpt.", the designer's name, "R. Westall, R. A. delt.", title, "Death of a Fair Infant. Page 77.", and publisher's details "Published March 25, 1797 by J. & J. Boydell & G. Nicol, Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall; & No. 90, Cheapside." printed below the image.Containing
slight foxing, most notably in the outer margins, else a rich, early impression and in excellent condition throughout. "On the Death of a Fair Infant" represents a superb, original example of late eighteenth century art of Benjamin Smith. |
| Subject: |
Benjamin Smith, Richard Westall, John Boydell, "On the Death of a Fair Infant", original stipple engraving, John Milton, drawing master to then Princess Victoria, stipple technique, stipple engravers of the late eighteenth century. |
| Important Information: |
The artist biographies, research and or information pertaining to all the original works of art posted on our pages has been written and designed by Greg & Connie Peters exclusively for our site, (www.artoftheprint.com). Please visit us regularly to view the latest artworks offered for sale. We will soon be posting an update of our most recent research and include the biographical and historical information pertaining to our next collection of original works of art created by artists throughout the centuries. We hope you found the information you were looking for and that it has been beneficial.
Our Gallery, (Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com) guarantees the authenticity of every work of art we sell 100%. Full documentation and certification is provided. We offer a wide selection of international fine art dating from the early Renaissance to the contemporary art period. |
| 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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| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com sells international fine art. Our collection consists of original paintings, watercolors, drawings, and original prints, such as etchings, engravings, lithographs, woodcuts, silk-screens, aquatints, mezzotints, linocuts, monoprints, and other mediums of original art. All of these works of art have been created by prominent and established painters, illustrators, watercolour artists and printmakers from around the world. The art in our gallery ranges from the early Renaissance period to the modern and contemporary art period. You can view other original artworks similar to the subject under discussion on this page listed in the following art directories. |
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| Subject: |
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