Sunday, November 20, 2016

Monochrome Lithographs, early 19th century

Henry Fuseli
"Evening, thou bringest all"
1802
lithograph
British Museum

Charles Heath
Profile of a man in Roman costume
1802
lithograph
British Museum

George Arnald
Young woman
ca. 1810-20
lithograph
British Museum

Anonymous print-maker
Silhouette of George Gordon, Lord Byron 
ca. 1810-24
lithograph
British Museum

William Lock III
Illustration to Byron's Beppo
1820s
lithograph
British Museum

The Count and Laura found their boat at last, 
And homeward floated o'er the silent tide, 
Discussing all the dances gone and past; 
The Dancers and their dresses, too, beside. 
Some little Scandals eke; but all aghast 
(As to their palace-stairs the rowers glide) 
Sate Laura by the side of her Adorer, 
When lo! the Mussulman was there before her! 

'Sir!' said the Count, with brow exceeding grave, 
'Your unexpected presence here will make 
It necessary for myself to crave 
Its import
but perhaps 'tis a mistake. 
I hope it is so, and at once to waive 
All compliment
I hope so for your sake; 
You understand my meaning, or you shall.' 
'Sir' (quoth the Turk), 'tis no mistake at all: 

'That Lady is my Wife!' Much wonder paints 
The Lady's changing cheek, as well it might, 
But where an Englishwoman sometimes faints, 
Italian females don't do so outright; 
They only call a little on their Saints, 
And then come to themselves, almost or quite, 
Which saves much hartshorn, salts, and sprinkling faces, 
And cutting stays, as usual in such cases. 


— from Byron's Beppo, stanzas 87-89

William Lock III
Illustration to Byron's Mazeppa
1820s
lithograph
British Museum

“BRING forth the horse!”—the horse was brought;
  In truth he was a noble steed,
  A Tartar of the Ukraine breed,
Who look’d as though the speed of thought
Were in his limbs; but he was wild,        
  Wild as the wild deer, and untaught,
With spur and bridle undefiled—
  ’Twas but a day he had been caught;
And snorting, with erected mane,
And struggling fiercely, but in vain,        
In the full foam of wrath and dread
To me the desert-born was led:
They bound me on, that menial throng,
Upon his back with many a thong;
Then loosed him with a sudden lash—        
Away!—away!—and on we dash!—
Torrents less rapid and less rash.

— from Byron's Mazeppa, stanza 9

A. Scott
Skeleton
1823
lithograph
British Museum

Benjamin Robert Haydon
Romeo and Juliet
1829
lithograph
British Museum

Johann Gottlieb Prestel
Portrait of Maria Catharina Prestel
1830s
lithograph
British Museum

Louis Haghe after John Thomas Smith
JMW Turner in the Print Room at the British Museum
ca. 1830
lithograph
British Museum


Horace Vernet
Opening of the Tomb of Raphael in the Pantheon
1833
lithograph
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Day & Co
Madame Lafarge 
1841
lithograph
British Museum

Théodore Chassériau
Apollo and Daphne
1844
lithograph
British Museum

Théodore Chassériau
Venus Anadyomène
1844
lithograph
British Museum

I am grateful to the British Museum for making these images available.