Suppressed Plates, Wood-engravings, &c.: Together with Other Curiosities Germane Thereto; Being an Account of Certain Matters Peculiarly Alluring to the CollectorLayard, George Somes
History
Suppressed Plates, Wood-engravings, &c.: Together with Other Curiosities Germane Thereto; Being an Account of Certain Matters Peculiarly Alluring to the Collector
Layard, George Somes
Engraving; Engraving -- Collectors and collecting
Twenty-two years later the plate was resurrected and altered to
its second state, in which it is made to represent Lord Bute. The
lower part of the plate, bearing the quotation from Shakespeare and
the “Description,” has been now cut away, and “Scotch” inserted in
the place of “English” in the title. The chief alterations are the
reduction of the full-bottomed wig and the addition of a wig-tie of
black ribbon, the addition {237} of a star on the breast, and a
new and abusive inscription on the right-hand document. In this case
the adapter has shown but little ingenuity.
[Illustration: Queen Anne presiding over the House of Lords. (_The
plate in its first state_)]
[Illustration: _The plate in its second state, now representing_ George
I. presiding over the House of Lords]
We will now turn to a far more elaborate example, which, in its first
state, as will be seen in the reproduction, represents Queen Anne
presiding in state over the House of Lords. The plate is etched by
Romeyn de Hooghe.
At the top of the picture, between female figures representing Plenty
and War, is suspended a cloth, on which the Queen is shown presiding
over the House of Commons. At her side sits Prince George of Denmark.
The whole is surmounted by the words, “Het Hoog en Lager Huys van
Engeland.” Left and right of the cloth are scrolls bearing the legends,
“Hinc gloria regni” and “Hinc felicitas publica.”
At the base of the plate are two small self-contained etchings. That
on the left shows the heralds proclaiming the Queen; that on the right
shows Her Majesty sitting in Council. Between these are inscribed the
following words:—
“Annæ D. G.
Magnæ Britanniæ Reginæ,” etc., etc.
{238}
The main design is crowded with details and figures of the utmost
interest, any description of which is forbidden by the space at my
disposal. The artist’s signature is to be seen on the floor of the Hall.
Thirteen years were now to elapse before it was transformed into
the glorification of George I. The King now takes the place of the
late Queen in the House of Lords. The throne in the House of Commons
is vacant. The inscription on the cloth has been re-engraved, and
“Engeland” changed to “Engelandt.” The title and the panels at the
bottom of the plate have been cut away, and the index numbers on the
main design and the index letters on the cloth have been altered. The
designer’s name has been removed from the floor of the House, and
engraved on the right-hand corner of the plate.
These are the main differences. The curious reader may occupy himself
in discovering others.
The next example here reproduced I give because of the peculiarly
drastic changes which have been made by the pirate into whose hands the
plate has fallen. {239}
[Illustration: “The Races of the Europeans, with their Keys.” (_The
plate in its first state_)]
[Illustration: “A Skit on Britain.” (_The plate in its second state_)]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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