Name/Title
Allegory of PoetryEntry/Object ID
VC.58.29 a-bDescription
a. Painting: Figures in Italianate landscape; poet reclining on the ground, looks up from writing, as man in a red suit who stands over his shoulder points to stone memorial of Milton; vignette of Milton, wearing a laurel crown, appears on the monument below another wreath in relief; man and woman come through half-ruined archway in the center reading paper; young girl with the, glances at man in lower right; landscape filled with wild trees, imaginary Classical and/or Baroque ruins, and one tall domestic Italian building; the colors are hidden by the all-over brown cast of varnish; only the red stands out with any clarity; title at bottom of print reads: "Printed for John Bowles and Son. POETRY at the Black Horse in Cornhill." Monument is labeled "Milton". No signature of engraver.
b. Frame: Black molding and an inner "sanded-spandrel" gilded and carved edge. Minor dents and worm holes filled with black paint; lower left-hand corner rather badly chipped.Artwork Details
Medium
Ink, varnish, glass, Oil Paint, Ink, Varnish, Glass, Oil PaintSubject Person or Organization
John MiltonCollection
Van Cortlandt Manor Object CollectionMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Richard HoustonAttribution
EngraverArtist
UnknownAttribution
ArtistManufacturer
John Bowles & SonDate made
circa 1750Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
See descriptionOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
VC.58.29 A & B
VC.58.29 A-B
VC.58.29a-b
Dimensions
Dimension Description
FrameHeight
14-3/4 inWidth
18-3/4 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 14 3/4 x 18 3/4 in. (37.5 x 47.6 cm)Dimension Description
Glzd. areaHeight
10 inWidth
14 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 10 x 14 in. (25.4 x 35.6 cm)Condition
Notes
Remarks: Frame: not square; glass not set in frame.Notes
Remarks: Details of condition: There is the all-over brownish cast of the varnish and a few areas where the hardened paint and varnish has pulled away from the glass.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
John MiltonNotes
SubjectPerson or Organization
Van Cortlandt FamilyNotes
Former ownerRelated Entries
Notes
VC.58.28 a-b - Painting - Part of set
VC.58.31 a-b - Painting - Similar item
VC.58.28 a-b - Painting - Similar item
VC.58.30 a-b - Painting - Similar item
VC.58.30 a-b - Painting - Part of set
VC.58.31 a-b - Painting - Part of setGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Miscellaneous: - Method.
The black print of a mezzotint engraving cemented to Crown or Bristol glass with oil of turpentine; paper removed in layers from the reverse, leaving only the ink lines and dots; oil color was applied from the reverse of glass; coat of mastic varnish on the transfer printed and painted glass was applied in transparent and protective coat. (See Hughes).
The process was used from the late 17th century to about the 1770s. However, mezzotints were known in England as early as 1665 when Pepys mentions them in his diary.
Harry Shaw Newman of the Old Print Shop supplied an 18th century frame.Note Type
General NoteNote
w. VC.58.29BNote Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Manor, Northeast Chamber/Catherine's