Being employed upon an entirely new biography of _Henry Purcell_, I am
most anxious to procure all the information in my power relative to the
various portraits extant of this "famous musician." Granger's list is
very imperfect, but having by my own researches considerably extended
it, I submit it to your readers for perusal, in the hope that those who
are versed in the lore of "print" or "picture collecting" may correct
errors, or point out omissions.
_Paintings and Drawings._
1. Head of Purcell, painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller. Lately in the
possession of E. Bates, Esq., of Somerset House.
2. Half-length, said (but evidently erroneously) to have been
painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Now in the meeting-room of the
Royal Society of Musicians, Lisle Street, Soho.
3. Half-length, originally used as a sign at the tavern known by
the name of "The Purcell's Head," in Wych Street, Strand. Query,
where is it at present?
4. Portrait of Purcell when a very young man, formerly among
Cartwright's pictures in Dulwich College. Query, what has become
of it?
5. An original portrait by Closterman. In his hand is a miniature
of Queen Mary. Formerly in the collection of Charles Burney, Mus.
Doc., at whose sale it was sold, in 1814, for 18_l._ 18_s._ I
cannot trace this picture.
6. Crayon drawing, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, from the
first-mentioned painting. Formerly in Mr. Bartleman's collection.
_Engravings._
1. An engraving by T. Cross, prefixed as frontispiece to his
_Twelve Sonatas_, 1683.
2. Ditto, by R. White, from a painting by Closterman. Frontispiece
to the _Orpheus Britannicus_.
3. Ditto, engraved by W. N. Gardiner, from a drawing by S.
Harding, taken from the original picture in Dulwich College, 1794.
4. Ditto, by T. Holloway, from the crayon drawing by Sir Godfrey
Kneller.
5. An etching inscribed "Henry Purcell," but without the name of
painter or engraver.
6. A small engraving, by Grignion, in Sir John Hawkins's _History
of Music_.
7. An engraving by W. Humphries, after Sir Godfrey Kneller.
Frontispiece to Novello's edit. of Purcell's _Sacred Music_.