Angelica Kauffman RA (Swiss 1741-1807)

Angelica Kauffman RA (Swiss 1741-1807)
Three designs for frontispieces for John Bell's 'The Poets of Great Britain Complete from Chaucer to Churchill'
Three, inscribed respectively SAVAGE./Content from Noise & court/retires/And smilinsits while Muses/tune their Lyres; Young Damon came unknowing where he-/stray'd/Full of the Image of his beauteous maid; and Infancy Straining backward from the breasts./And the fond Father sits on t'other/-side/Laughs at his moods & views his-/-Spleen with pride (each within a cartouche)
Each pencil, pen and grey ink, grey and brown wash, heightened with white
Largest 11.1 x 7.1cm; 4¼ x 2¾in; Smallest 11 x 6.7cm; 4¼ x 2¾in, framed as one (3)

Provenance:
Christie's, London, British Art on Paper, 28 November 2000, lot 51, where purchased by the present private collector

Engraved:
Two by Jean Marie Delattre, the other by Francesco Bartolozzi

The present drawings are three of the original designs by Angelica Kauffman that were engraved with slight variations for John Bell of the Strand's The Poets of Great Britain Complete from Chaucer to Churchill, published between 1778 and 1792 in 109 volumes. Executed between 1779 and 1781 they are the frontispieces for the works of Richard Savage, Lord Lyttleton, and Charles Churchill respectively.