By 1747, Abraham Langford was in partnership with Christopher 'Auctioneer' Cock (d. 1748),
and in 1748, succeeded him at the auction-rooms
(later numbered 8-10) in the north-eastern corner of the Piazza, Covent Garden.
Lettered below the image with the title, and "Published
by Baldwyn, Catherine St Strand, London".
Portrait and landscape painter, mezzotinter and auctioneer;
b.Boston (America) 1727; d. Margate 1792; apprenticed to engraver; to Surinam
in 1752-7; in Amsterdam 1758 where trained as mezzotinter under Elgersma; to
London via Paris in 1763; remained in England until his death; exhibited SA
1764-76; from c. 1773 worked primarily as an auctioneer rather than printmaker,
becoming one of the principal London dealers in old master paintings.
Lettered: "E. T. invt [E. Topham]." and "Pub
accorg to Act by M Darly 39 Strand March 15th 1773."
..................................
The Macaroni Auctioneer.
Matthias Darley
1754 - Cuttings advertising exhibition of etchings by Thomas
Worlidge at Mr Carne's, his Majesty's glazier, corner of Hemmings Row and St
Martin's Lane, also an exhibition of pictures at the Great Auction Room, 70 St
Martin's Lane.
Abraham Langford's Catalogue -
"A catalogue of a collection of pictures, painted by
Mr. Worlidge, Of Covent-Garden, Consisting of Histories, Heads, Landscapes and
Dead Game, and also some Drawings; Which, together with A large and fine
Picture of Orpheus and Eurydice, by Guido, Brought over from France by the late
Mr. Samuel Paris; A View of Versailles, by Patel, And a large Family Picture,
by Jordaens of Antwerp, Will be sold by auction, By Mr. Langford, At his House
in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, On Friday the 5th of this Instant April
1754. The said Pictures may be view'd from Wednesday the 3d Instant till the
Time of Sale, which will begin punctually at Twelve O'Clock.
Catalogues of which may be had gratis of Mr. Worlidge, at
Mr. Carne's, Glazier to his Majesty, in St. Martin's Lane; Mr. Payne,
Bookseller in Pater Noster-Row; and Mr. Langford, in the Great Piazza
aforesaid. Conditions of Sale as usual"
Three Langford Catalogues available on gallica -
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4500128d
There were sales in 1755, 1756 and 1757 It seems that his
health was deteriorating but he later rallied and went into a profitable partnership with the architect James Stuart
......................
Peter Scheemakers and a Small Marble Statue of Laocoon and his Sons
After the sale, some of the purchasers gave the moulders
leave to make casts of what they had bought, so that the students could procure
them at a reasonable rate, and study from them in their own apartments.
................................
Abraham Langford, A catalogue of the genuine and capital
collection of pictures, by the most celebrated masters, of that late great and
learned physician, Doctor Richard Mead, deceased, London 1754.
https://archive.org/details/catalogueofpictu00lang/mode/2up?ref=ol
...........................
Langford, publisher, A catalogue
of the genuine and entire collection of valuable gems, bronzes, marble and
other busts and antiquities, of the late Doctor Mead : which (by order of the
executors) will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford, at his house in the Great
Piazza, Covent Garden, on Tuesday the 11th of this instant March 1755, and the
four following days : the said collection will be exhibited to public view on
Friday, Saturday and Monday, the 7th, 8th and 10th instant, from ten in the
morning till four, and the sale will begin each day punctually at twelve
o'clock : catalogues of which may be had on Thursday the 6th, at Mr. Langford's
aforesaid, [1755]
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/orbis:1929868
For an excellent easily navigable version see -
also https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/123243#page/1/mode/1up
......................................
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4500135j
..............................
A catalogue of the ... collection of mathematical
instruments, gems, pictures ... etc. of M. Folkes ... which ... will be sold by
auction, by Mr. Langford ... the 7th, and ... 8th, of May ... 1755 / [Martin
Folkes].
https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ueekkrth/items?canvas=5
.............................
A catalogue of the ... collection of coins, medals, and
medallions ... of M. Folkes ... which ... will be sold by auction, by Mr.
Langford ... the 27th of Jan. 1756.
https://wellcomecollection.org/works/semt45n3/items?canvas=5
.jpg)
A catalogue of the library of William Kent, Esq; late
principal painter and architect to his Majesty. Which will be sold by auction,
by Mr. Langford, at his house (late Mr. Cock's) in the Great-Piazza,
Covent-Garden. On Tuesday the 14th of February, 1748-9, ... 1749.
https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_a-catalogue-of-the-libra_langford-mr-abraham_1749
He was living in Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, where he died
on 4th July 1749. The catalogue of his sale at Langford's, 11 February 1750
gives his address. According to George Vertue he was about fifty years old at
the time of his death, and had spent more than 30 years in England.
George Vertue has the last word 'The Ingenious Mr Joseph
VanhAcken painter (had been 30 years or more in England) haveing catchd cold
fell into a Feavour of which in about a fortnights Time he dyd – aged about 50
– a man of good compleaxion a good round fatt face and shortish stature. A
small cast with one Eye'
The 'original models of Rubens, van Dyck and Fiamingo' were
included in Langford's of the Piazza Covent Garden, posthumous van Aken auction
sale of 11th February 1751. van Dyck
see - http://artworld.york.ac.uk/sourceView.do?sourceUrn=5.0155.636&br=no
For our purposes the most instructive day of the sale was
the first day - Monday 11th February 1750 when van Aken's collection of 77 pieces of sculpture were sold.
Lot 45 - King William on horseback, by Mr. Rysbrack.
Lot 47 - Palladio and Inigo Jones, by Mr. Rysbrack.
Lot 48 - Rubens, Vandyck and Fiamingo, by ditto.
Under the heading
MODELS &c.
Lot 70 - Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Lock cut in ivory.
Lot 71 - Vandyck and Inigo Jones, ditto
Lot 73 - The original model of Rubens, by Mr. Rysbrack.
Lot 74 - Ditto, of Vandyck, by ditto
Lot 75 - Ditto, of Fiamingo, by Mr. Rysbrackp. 3, lot 44,
Available on line : Art Sales Catalogues Online.
.....................
The Roubiliac Sale Catalogue.
https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-roubiliac-sale-catalogue-with-list.html
...............................
There was a sale of a collection of paintings by John Van
Spangen, ‘late of Poland Street,’ soon after, on 10 February 1748, at Cock’s
sale rooms. The timing suggests that this well-known art collector was
Spangen’s brother. The collection consisted mainly of works bought by Van
Spangen in Holland, including notable works by Rembrandt. It also included a
number of ivories by Francois Duquesnoy (Catalogue of the Entire Collection of
Curious Pictures of Mr John Van Spangen, Cock and Langford, London 10 February
1748).
The John van Spangen Sale Catalogue is available on line at
- https://archive.org/details/frick-31072001958836/page/n5/mode/2up
...............................
Langfords Catalogues at Yale not yet digitalised.
A catalogue of the genuine and entire collection of
pictures, enamellings, miniatures, and oriental stones, of Mr. Christian
Frederick Zincke, of Covent Garden, enamel painter : which will be sold by
auction, by Mr. Langford, at his house (late Mr. Cock's) in the Great Piazza,
Covent Garden : (on Friday and Saturday the 3d and 4th of February 1748-9 : the
said collection will be exhibited to publick view at the place of sale
aforesaid, on Wednesday the first of February, and every day after till the time
of sale, which will begin each day at half an hour after eleven precisely :
catalogues of which may be had gratis at Mr. Zincke's aforesaid, and at Mr.
Langford's in the Great Piazza.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133416683408651
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A catalogue of a genuine and capital collection of Roman earthen ware in dishes, plates, ewers, &c. : painted by Raphael, Benvenuto Garofolo, Julio Romano, Vasari, Paci, Roso, Perino del Vaga, and others : also, a curious collection of miniatures by Isaac Oliver, Hillier, Hoskins, and others : and likewise several pictures by various Master's : which will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford, at his house in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, on Thursday and Friday, the 17th and 18th of this instant March 1757 : to be viewed on Tuesday the 15th and every day after till the time of sale, which will begin each day punctually at twelve o'clock
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99136401763408651
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A catalogue of the grand and capital collection of Italian, Flemish, and Dutch paintings, of the Hon. Sir Luke Schaub, lately deceased : amongst which are the choicest works of Raphael, A.L. Carracci, M. Angelo, Guercino, Tintoretto, Titian, Albano, Corregio, Guido, P. da Cortona, P. Veronese, P. Laura, Luca Giordano, C. Lorraine, Poussin, Murillo, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vandyck, Jordaens, Wovermans, Teneirs, P. Brill, Ostade, and several other masters of great eminence : which, (by order of the administratrix), will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford, at his house in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, on Wednesday the 26th, Thursday the 27th, and Friday the 28th of this instant April 1758
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133224723408651
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A catalogue of the genuine collection of pictures, of Lady
Sidney Sherrard, lately deceased; (being part of the collection of the Right
Hon. Jocelyn Earl of Leicester, late of Penshurst in the County of Kent,
deceased) : consisting of the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Guido, Tintoret, C.
Lorraine, Sal. Rosa, Vandyck, D. Teniers, Elsheimer, Sir P. Lely : also of a
sixteen month repeating clock, by Tompion, of most exquisite workmanship, in an
ebony case, elegantly enriched with silver and other ornaments : which (by
order of the Hon. Lady Yonge) will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford and Son,
at their house in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, on Thursday the 10th of this
instant May 1764 : the same may be viewed on Tuesday the 8th Instant, and till
the time of sale, which will begin punctually at twelve o'clock....:
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133258393408651
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A catalogue of the capital and entire collection of paintings, of Roger Harenc, Esq. of Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, lately deceased : consisting of the best and choicest works of Raphael, and Del Sarto, Bronzino, Guido, Carracci, Titian, Parmegiano, P. Da Cortona, P. Veronese, C. Lorraine, F. Laura, Wovermans, Vanderwerf, D. Teniers, Rubens, Vandyck, and others of the most eminent and most admired Masters : which (by order of the executors) will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford and Son, at their house in the Grand Piazza, Covent Garden, on Thursday the 1st of March 1764, and the two following days : the said paintings will be exhibited to public view on Tuesday the 28th of this instant February, and every day after till the time of sale which will begin each day punctually at twelve o'clock.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99136400303408651
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A catalogue of the entire collection of bronzes, of the
Palazzo Gaddi, Palazzo Marucelli, and the late eminent antiquary Baron Stosch :
consisting of great variety of groupes, statues, busts, priapi, animals, basso
and alto relievos, sacrificing vessels, instruments, &c. of Roman, Grecian,
Etruscan and Egyptian workmanship : with some few modern bronzes of Mich.
Angelo, Benv. Cellini, Tacca, Giov. di Bologna, Fiamingo, Algardi, and other
celebrated masters : which will be sold by auction / by Mr. Langford and son,
at their house in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, on Wednesday the 21st of
this instant March 1764, and the two following days ; the said collections will
be exhibited to publick view, on Monday the 19th, and every day after till the
time of sale, which will begin each day punctually at twelve o'clock ;
Catalogues of which may be had gratis, on the days of viewing, at Mr.
Langford's aforesaid.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133258303408651
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catalogue of the genuine and entire collection of pictures,
miniatures, &c. of Mr. John Oldfield, late of Tufton Street, Westminster,
deceased : which by order of the administratrix will by sold by auction, by Mr.
Langford and Son, at their home in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, on Tuesday,
the 29th of this instant March 1768, and the two following days : the said
collection may be viewed on Saturday next the 26th, and every day after till
the time of sale (Sunday excepted) which will begin punctually at twelve
o'clock : catalogue of which may be had gratis, on the days of viewing, at Mr.
Langford, aforesaid.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133261783408651
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Mr. Langford and Son, A catalogue of the large and capital
collection of Italian, French, Flemish, and Dutch pictures, by masters of the
highest estimation, of his grace John, Duke of Argyll, lately deceased :
amongst which are the works of Raphael, Titian, Tintoretto, Lanfranco,
Corregio, And. del Sarto, Luca Giordano, Solimene, Spagnoletto, Ann. Carracci,
Giorgione, Procacini, P. Laura, Bassano, Mola, N. Poussin, S. Rosa, F.
Bolognese, Bamboccio, E. Serani, Holbein, L. Van Leyden, Gerard Dou, Mieris, Ostade,
Snyders, Borgognone, Rembrandt, Poelemburch, Old Frank, Vandevelde, Rubens,
Teniers, Rottenhamer, Van Uden, F. Hals, Vangoen, Vanderneer &c. : which
(by order of executor) will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford and Son, at
their house in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden : on Tuesday the 19th of this
instant March 1771, and the four following days : the same may be viewed on
Friday the 15th, and every day after (Sunday excepted) till the time of sale,
which will begin each day punctually at twelve o'clock : catalogues of which
may be had on the days of viewing, at Messrs. Langford's aforesaid (price
six-pence), [1771]
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133271323408651
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A catalogue of the noble collection of pictures, miniatures,
bronzes, gems, magnificent embossed plate, ornaments in gold and silver, coins
and medals, china, Japan, &c. of the Right Honourable Lady Elizabeth
Germain, lately deceas'd : being the collection of the old Earls of
Peterborough; and also part of the Arundelian collection : which (by order of
the executors) will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford, and Son, at their
house in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, on Wednesday the 7th of this instant
March 1770, and the three following days [...] Not. : in the second day's sale
will be sold, her Ladyship's rich set of gold and silver dressing plate, her
brilliant ear rings, necklace, girdle buckle, stay buckles, and other jewels;
her large and fine Oriental pearl necklace, and several other rich and valuable
effects.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:9917383903408651
The whole available at
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=gri.ark:/13960/t7sn16084&seq=1
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A catalogue of the large and capital collection of pictures
: by the most admired Italian, French, Flemish and Dutch masters : also prints
and drawings, framed and glazed, of James West, Esq; of King Street, Covent
Garden, deceased, late President of the Royal Society : which (by order of the
administratrix,) will be sold by auction by Mess. Langford's at their house in
the Great Piazza, Covent Garden : on Wednesday the 31st of this Instant March
1773, and the three following days : to be viewed on March the 27th, and till
the time of sale, (Sunday excepted) which will begin each day punctually at
twelve o'clock : catalogues may be then had gratis on Mess. Langford's
aforesaid : condition of sale as usual.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:9917374463408651
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A catalogue of the collection of pictures and drawings
framed and glazed, and studies from nature by Mr. George Barrett, of Orchard
Street, Portman Square : several of which are particular views in Scotland,
England, and Wales ; which will be sold by auction, by Mr. Langford and Son, at
their house in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden : on Thursday the 9th of this
Instant May 1771 : the said Collection may be viewed on Tuesday the 7th, and
till the Time of Sale, which will begin punctually at twelve o'clock.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133272333408651
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A catalogue of that capital collection of pictures, of
Edward Ravenell, Esq., deceased : formed by Sir Peter Killegrew in the reign of
Charles I : consisting of the works of Rubens, Rembrandt, Vandyke, Poussin,
Ostade, Wouvermans, Carlo Dolci, Barroccio, Wynants, Deneef, S. Rosa, Tintoret,
Vanderveldt, Zuchero, Titian, &c.: in this collection there are also a most
beautiful picture of a Dutch fair, by Wouvermans : an original portrait of
Thomas Killegrew, the Jester, by Vandyck : a sea view by Vanderveldt : Venus
and Adonis, by Netscher : and two elegant Porphyry Busts with Jasper Draperies,
on beautiful variegated Pedestals : which (by order of the executor,) will be
sold by auction, by Mess. Langford, at their house in the Great Piazza, Covent
Garden, on Saturday the 24th of this Instant February 1776 : the said
collection may be viewed on Thursday the 22nd, and till the time of sale, which
will begin punctually at twelve o'clock : catalogues of which may be had gratis
on the days of viewing, at Mess. Langford's aforesaid : conditions of sale as
usual.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133290853408651
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A catalogue of the reserved part of the most magnificent and
valuable collection of Italian, Roman, French, Flemish and Dutch pictures ever
imported into England : selected from the first Cabinets in Europe, at a very
liberal expence : this collection consists of the most unquestionable and best
performances of Raphael, Guido, Corregio, Caracci, Guercino, Caravaggio, Cl.
Lorain, L. Da Vinci, Parmegiano, C. Maratti, Mola, Murillo, V. Castelli,
Rembrandt, Titian, P. Veronese, Tintoret, S. Rosa, Rubens, Vandyke, Velasquez,
Poussin, Borgognone, S. Bourdon, Polemburg, Bassan, Vanderwerf, Mieris, &c.
: and will be sold by auction by Mess. Langford, at the Great Rooms, late
belonging to the Society of Arts &c. opposite Beaufort Buildings, Strand,
on Friday, April 10, and the following day : the said collection may be
publickly viewed on Wednesday and Thursday the 8th and 9th, and 'till the time
of sale, which will begin each day punctually at twelve o'clock ; descriptive
catalogues of which may be had, price six-pence, on the days of viewing, at the
place of sale.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133301883408651
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A catalogue of the third and last part of the most valuable
collection of Italian, Roman, French, Flemish and Dutch pictures ever Imported
into England : selected from the first Cabinets in Europe, at a very liberal
expence : this collection consists of the most unquestionable and best
performances, in the highest preservation, of Raphael , Guido, Caracci, Albano,
Romanelli, Lucatelli, Canaletti, Poussin, Watteau, Lancret, Vernet, Titian,
Bandinelli, Julio Romani, Caraveggio, Domen. Feti, Le Seuer, Murillo,
Velasquez, Le Brun, Tintoret, Bassan, A. Veronese, Rubens, S. Rosa, V.
Castelli, Castiglione, Solimene, Bourdon, Freminet, Vandermeulen, Parocel,
Vandyke, Berghem, Teniers, Woverman, &c. : which will be sold by auction,
by Mess. Langford, at the Great Rooms late belonging to the Society of Arts,
&c. opposite Beaufort Buildings, Strand : on Thursday, May 14 and the
following day : the said collection may be publickly viewed on Tuesday the
13th, and 'till the time of sale, which will begin each day punctually at
twelve o'clock : descriptive catalogues of which may be had, price six-pence,
on the days of viewing, at the place of sale.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133305243408651
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1778 A catalogue of the most magnificent and valuable
collection of Italian, Roman, French, Flemish and Dutch pictures ever imported
into England : selected from the first Cabinets in Europe, at a very liberal
expence : in this collection are the most unquestionable and best performances
of Raphael, Guido, Rubens, Rembrandt, S. Rosa, Mola, Corregio, Guerchino, C.
Maratti, P. Veronese, Murillo, L. Da Vinci, Tintoret, Titian, Carracci, Claude,
Cignani, Beughel, Poussin, Vandyke, Castigione, P. Cortona, Elsheimer, Schidone,
&c. : which will be sold by auction, by Mess. Langford, at the Great Rooms,
late belonging to the Society of Arts &c. opposite Beaufort Buildings,
Strand : on Thursday, March 26, and the two following days : the said
collection may be publickly viewed on Tuesday and Wednesday the 24th and 25th,
and 'till the time of sale, which will begin each day punctually at twelve
o'clock : catalogues of which may be had, price six-pence, on the days of
viewing, at the place of sale.
https://ycba-collections-dev.herokuapp.com/catalog/alma:99133300593408651
