Continuing the Theatrical and Shakespeare Theme:
This post updated with details of the Roubiliac sale 17 August 2023.
Edward Capell (1731 - 1781).
By Louis Francois Roubiliac.
There were two busts (probably portrait reliefs) in the posthumous sale at the Roubiliac Studio in St Martin's Lane.
Lot 20. Mr Capel, Plaster Bust or perhaps a relief. (Edward Capell {1713-81} known from engravings by Bartalozzi and Anker Smith at the BM).
Lot 77. ---- Capel. Terracotta, Bust (known from engravings by Bartalozzi and Anker Smith at the BM).
Editor of Shakespeare's Plays, pub. 1768.
Engraving of the Missing Plaster Rondel by Roubiliac
by Bartolozzi.
Where is it now?
Where is it now?
He was
born at Troston Hall
in Suffolk.
Through
the influence of the Duke of Grafton he
was appointed to the office of Deputy Inspector of Plays in 1737, with a
salary of £200 per annum, and in 1745 he was made a Groom of the Privey Chamber through
the same influence.
In 1760 appeared his Prolusions, or, Select
Pieces of Ancient Poetry, a collection which included Edward III
placed by Capell among the doubtful plays of Shakespeare.
Shocked
at the inaccuracies which had crept into Sir Thomas Hanmer's edition of
Shakespeare, he projected an entirely new edition, to be carefully collated
with the original copies. After spending three years in collecting, and
comparing scarce folio and quarto editions, he published his own edition in 10
vols (1768),
with an introduction written in a style of extraordinary quaintness, which was
afterwards appended to Johnson's
and Steevens editions.
Dr. Johnson observed that his abilities 'were just sufficient to select the black hairs from the white for the use of the periwig makers'.
Dr. Johnson observed that his abilities 'were just sufficient to select the black hairs from the white for the use of the periwig makers'.
Capell
published the first part of his commentary, which included notes on nine plays
with a glossary, in 1774. This he afterwards recalled, and the publication of
the complete work, Notes and Various Readings of Shakespeare (1779–1783),
the third volume of which bears the title of The School of Shakespeare,
was completed, under the superintendence of John Collins, in 1783, two years after the
author's death. It contains the results of his unremitting labour for thirty
years, and throws considerable light on the history of the times of
Shakespeare, as well as on the sources from which he derived his plots.
Edward Capell.
after Roubiliac.
1787.
Engraving.
Anker Smith (1759 - 1819).
1430 x 920 mm.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
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Is this bust the bust of Edward Capell by Roubiliac??.
