Beschreibung:

Baily (J.T. Herbert). Emma, Lady Hamilton, A Biographical Essay with a catalogue of her published portraits, 1st edition, W.G. Menzies, 1905, 24 colour and monochrome plates, EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED with an additional 110 late 18th century, early 19th century and later portraits and views of Emma Hamilton, Lord Nelson and related subjects, plus an autograph letter signed by Horatio, Lord Nelson, to John Sullivan on-board the Victory, dated December 22nd 1803, an autograph promissory note by Sir William Hamilton dated Naples, March 15th 1770, for the sum of 100 ducats, an important 3-page autograph letter by William Hayley to the sculptor John Flaxman dated July 24, 1784, and an autograph letter signed by the artist Sir Thomas Lawrence to the engraver Richard Lane top edge gilt, remainder rough-trimmed, modern antique-style dark green full crushed gilt-decorated morocco, thick 4to (28 x 23.5 cm, 11 x 9.25 ins) (Qty: 1) A unique copy of Herbert Baily's biography and catalogue of portraits of Emma, Lady Hamilton, which includes, bound in: 1) An autograph letter signed by Horatio Nelson to John Sullivan under secretary for War and the Colonies, under Lord Hobart, from 18 March 1801 to 15 May 1804, written on-board H.M.S. Victory, stating 'the letter to Mr: Drummond sent me in your letter of Sepr: 23rd: was immediately forwarded after it reached me to Constantinople via Patrass where a Tartar is stationed, our Consul writes me, for the purpose of carrying Dispatches. I have had the pleasure for a moment of seeing your nephew Mr: Forbes of the Phoebe and I have the pleasure to assure you that his character stands very high...'. 2) An important autograph letter by William Hayley (1745-1820), author, connoisseur and close friend and biographer of the artist George Romney to the English sculptor John Flaxman in which he acknowledges receipt of Flaxman's 'Frieze', and describes the design and decoration of his new library, which is to be decorated by Flaxman 'I think you will be highly pleased with the general effect of this apartment, which is to receive from yr art some of its finishing decorations - I have carried the wooden Frieze & cornice all round the room & instead of keeping close to the wall on the south side, where there are no Book Cases, have made it project so much, that it receives the window curtains within it, & forms a shelf wide enough for Busts between the two piers - this Projection however will not in any degree injure the effect of your medallions that are to be fixed over the windows... with Busts I intend to mix small statues & vases, but for these I can patiently wait - some Busts I should be glad to have very soon, as the Top of my Book Cases will look desolate without them - Perhaps the shop of your Father may be able to furnish me with several, that I should chuse - I will therefore beg the Favor of you to let me know what Busts he has (in white plaister) of literary men & great Painters... I should like to have a dozen Heads of the following persons of that size, which is commonly sold, I think, for a Guinea, but I apprehend some of them are not to be had - Homer, Milton, Demostatnes, Cicero, Sophocles, Aristophanes, Rousseau Voltaire, Dryden, Pope, Sterne, Metastasio'. Hayley informs Flaxman that he has also written to his friend John Howard 'The Visitor of Prisons, to request a Favor of having a Head of him modelled for me by you - I have some apprehension that his excessive modesty will disappoint my wishes, tho He is certainly of all men living the person most worthy of having a statue raised to his Honor, & if I were a monarch, His Image should decorate every public Building of a charitable nature.' 3) A short autograph note by Sir Thomas Lawrence to the engraver Richard Lane 'I am engaged out to breakfast this morning - Pray have the goodness to leave the Print, and to give me the pleasure of your company at Eight tomorrow.' 4) An additional 100 engravings and prints including the stipple engraving