SIR,--All I can tell your correspondent, "A Young Print and Portrait
Collector," in reply to his inquiry, p. 7, in your "Current Notes" for
January, is, that I hope I may congratulate him on the possession of a
very valuable and historically interesting engraving.
Horace Walpole mentions it as in "Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales," and
describes it as "a large emblematic sheet print of Oliver Cromwell,
whole-length, in armour, with variety of devices and mottoes."--_Proof._
Granger describes it thus: "Oliver Cromwell standing with a book in
his hand betwixt two pillars; various emblems. Faithorne, sc. sh." And
Granger adds: "I do not remember to have seen more than two proofs of
this fine print. Mr. Walpole had one, and Mr. Gulston another. Mr. Bull
has the original drawing. The face was altered to that of King William."
A manuscript note upon my interleaved copy of Granger, which you may
remember I purchased of you, states that, "_Caulfield had not less than
ten or twelve of this print, but in consequence of the size they were
mostly damaged: Coram had a tolerable good one which he sold to Mr.
Townley for thirty guineas._" Caulfield, who was a well known print
dealer, says in his "Calcographiana," (1814), "The late Mr. Bull shewed
me Faithorne's original drawing, from which he engraved the print, and
a most brilliant proof impression; from him I also learnt the face was
afterwards altered to that of William III., in which state, however,
I never saw it." He describes the print as "Oliver Cromwell standing
between two pillars, inscribed the 'EMBLEM OF ENGLAND'S DISTRACTIONS AS
ALSO HER ATTAINED AND FURTHER HAPPINESS:' _large sheet_;" and values
the print at no less a sum than £36. This was all very well for a
dealer's valuation; however, if your correspondent will refer to the
records of the Strawberry Hill Sale, he will find in the Sixth Day's
Sale of the Prints, (18th June, 1842), that mentioned by Granger,
Lot. "761. Oliver Cromwell, whole-length, in armour, standing between
two columns, and otherwise surrounded by a variety of allegories and
emblematic devices, entitled, THE EMBLEME OF ENGLAND'S DISTRACTIONS,
AS ALSO OF HER ATTAINED AND FURTHER EXPECTED FREEDOME AND HAPPINESS:
sheet, _extra rare_;" which Mr. Evans, (a dealer also), then secured
for £7 15_s._ The discrepancies between the two Inscriptions appear
to me to be worthy of remark, and if both have been correctly copied,
with what has been stated respecting the appropriation of the head
to William III., would shew that the plate had been altered more
than once. The original plate is supposed to have been engraved
by Faithorne, while a prisoner in London for his adherence to the
cause of Charles I., and to have been so favourably received by the
Parliamentary party, as to have occasioned his liberation; and the
alteration of the head is attributed to his son, William Faithorne, who
was an engraver also.