Collection of letters, receipts, proofs, portraits, etc., concerning The British Gallery of Contemporary Portraits, published by Cadell & Davies, ca. 1809-1820.

ArchivalResource

Collection of letters, receipts, proofs, portraits, etc., concerning The British Gallery of Contemporary Portraits, published by Cadell & Davies, ca. 1809-1820.

Collection of letters, receipts, proofs, portraits, etc., concerning The British Gallery of Contemporary Portraits, published by Cadell & Davies, ca. 1809-1820.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702178222

Manuscripts, in multiple hands, of documents concerning the management of The British Gallery of Contemporary Portraits, primarily addressed to Cadell and Davies. The collection includes requests and receipts for payments, discussions concerning paintings sent out to be engraved, and both handwritten and printed biographies of various artists and nobles along with their engraved portraits. A letter from Anthony Cardon reads, "I must confess that I expected you would have allow'd me an opportunity of an other Trial before you condem'd me and that Mr. Wright would have taken the trouble of Tuching the Proof. If after that, it was not Like, then I should not Complain," while another by Charles Picart declares, "I think as near as I can say it will not be possible for me to complete the Portraits of the Bishop of London in Less than a fortnight...You must be aware of the difficulties there are in Portrait Engraving, and in this work the Great value of it will be the truth of the Likeness, and excellence of execution."

ca. 200 items (in 2 boxes) ; various sizes.

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library