Roubiliac and the St Martin's Lane Academy and its Environment.
Late 17th, 18th and Early 19th Centuries.
Part 1.
Some rough random notes and images.
These posts are a sort of stream of consciousness creation and will inevitably be edited and rearranged and expanded as I progress.
For the time being it is a useful place to 'dump' my notes and images.
For me the subject of 18th century sculpture that I 'blog' about is as much about the providing the visual as about the detailed background information.
I believe that one of the mistakes made by art historians writing about sculpture is that they forget that the subject is about three dimensional objects and how they are presented..
Much modern research is still illustrated with library photographs taken with studio lighting - my approach is, as much as possible to use my own photographs taken with natural light which I think provides a better idea of how the sculptor originally intended the work to be viewed.
.
Currently some of my efforts are given over to providing more images of the subjects than it is possible to make available in a printed work.
I make no pretence to be an expert but hopefully I am providing a fresh approach of looking at the subject.
The blog also allows me an excuse to roam through the streets of 18th and early 19th century London - a lifelong interest.
The blog, whilst for all its imperfections, is a better medium for providing comprehensive information and whilst my ego would like this work to be published at some point, the truth of the matter is that it would end up costing me money because the subject of 18th century sculpture is very much a minority interest - not forgetting the cost of using images from many sources which still charge for the privilege.
This and following essays is an attempt to locate and to give a feel of the area around St Martin's Lane, Leicester Fields (Square), Covent Garden, the Strand, and Charing Cross, the area where Roubiliac had his studio/workshop and the artistic community in London had its base, with the St Martin's Lane Academy in Peter's Court in the mid 18th Century.
In previous attempts to bring a district of London into some sort of focus I have looked at the Warwick Lane, Faringdon, London area the location of The Oxford Arms coaching inn and the Royal College of Surgeons.
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Note - House Numbers.
House numbering seems to have started in earnest after the postage act of 1765 - although there are no references to them in the act. I think that the numbering of houses in the West End - Westminster commenced in around 1765.
The detailed large scale maps Horwood of London of 1799 and the revised versions whilst a little late for our period are very useful and give the house numbers.
I will frequently return to them.
https://www.romanticlondon.org/horwoods-plan/#18/51.50888/-0.12853
John Roque's (1704 - 62) large scale map of London of 1741 - 45 on 16 sheets is of our period, it is extremely useful but lacking the finer detail of Horwood's map.
https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/15826791
_________________________
Mid Georgian London, Hugh Phillips, Pub. Collins 1964.
This is an invaluable publication for the study of Westminster in the Mid 18th Century.
Not available on line and long out of print. It has its faults and some of the information is out of date but it is highly recommended.
............................
The Story of Charing Cross and its Immediate Neighbourhood by Macmichael, J. Holden. Pub.1906 Chatto & Windus, London.
https://archive.org/details/cu31924028066102
_________________
St Martin's Lane ran North from Charing Cross to St Giles in the Field in the parish of St Martin in the Fields, Westminster.
see -
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol20/pt3/pp115-122
---------------------
The Salisbury Estate.
The third of the three closes comprising the Salisbury estate
was bounded on the north by the backs of the houses on the north side of Cecil
Court, on the east by St. Martin's Lane and on the south by Hemmings (Hemings) Row (previously Dirty Lane). It
was part of the five acres formerly called Beaumont's lands, and
was purchased in 1609 by Lord Salisbury from Sir Henry Maynard, who
had been secretary to Lord Salisbury's father, William Cecil, Lord Burghley. It
was then described as the Two Acres Close and is marked on the plan of 1609 as
containing 2 acres, 2 roods and 12 perches.
The east side of St Martin's Lane seems to have been developed piecemeal in the mid 17th century, but the west side from Peters Court to Newport Street from 73 to 110 (horwoods Maps) and usually described as the Pavement was a development of high end residences, with enclosed basement areas with railings at the front and with long back gardens accessed from Castle Street behind. Unfortunately no images exist except for the rough sketch by George Scharf of no. 93.
The South side of Hemmings Row had been demolished for the rebuilding of St Martin's Parish Workhouse in about 1830.
Three houses on the North West corner of Hemmings Row still existed in 1880's and are marked "to be pulled down" on the Goad Insurance map.
................................
Thomas Sandby (1721 - 98).
View from a back window in St Martin's Lane? into St Martin's Court.
Strype in 1720 describes St. Martin's Court, as a new built Court, with good Houses, and
a Freestone Pavement, into Church Lane, near the Church.
St Martin's Court dog legged between Castle Street to the west and St Martin's Lane.
Originally there were two entrances into the Court on the West side to Castle Street and two on the East to St Martin's Lane.
John Noble's Circulating Library at the Dryden's Head.
with a bust of Dryden above the door.
The bust of Dryden was perhaps based on the bust in Westminster Abbey by Peter Scheemakers and reproduced in plaster by John Cheere and subsequent manufacturers.
http://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2021/03/sarti-busts-at-wimpole-hall-part-3.html
This St Martin's Court property was formerly John's brother Francis Noble's shop/library the Ottway Head later taken over by his brother John.
The sign over the court reads "Books Lent at three shillings per Quarter - Ten shillings and sixpence per year.
Books Bought Sold and Exchanged".
This image from -
https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/17324495
Francis Noble, d.1792, of the Otway's Head, No.325, King Street, Covent Garden, London, formerly of the Ottways head in St Martin's Court.
John Noble, d.1797, of the Dryden's Head, was in St. Martin's Court, near Cranbourn Alley,
London, prior to 1749.
Samuel Noble, was at Pope's Head, Carnaby Street, near Carnaby Market, London.
see also -
This paragraph adapted from their website -
John Noble is listed as the retailer of Joshua Kirby’s Dr Brook Taylor’s Method of Perspective Made Easy, a book published in 1754, with a frontispiece by William Hogarth, which pre-empted a publication on perspective by Thomas Sandby himself.
It has been suggested that it was the anticipated appearance of Kirby’s book which partly explains Paul Sandby’s vicious satirical attacks on Hogarth which were published in 1753.
St Martin’s Lane and its surrounding streets and courts housed a large number of studios and workshops, along with the eponymous academy the first St Martin's Lane Academy which had been established in 1720 by Cheron and Vanderbank, and was disbanded in 1724 and recommenced by Hogarth in the autumn of 1735 using the fittings from his father in law Sir James Thornhill's Academy in the Piazza at Covent Garden.
..................
Sandby’s view above shows a series of well-lit attics and top-lit rooms.
In the window on the right a man can, perhaps, be seen at work. This building, with the two bay windows, seems to be on the North Eastern corner of St Martin’s Court and St Martin’s Lane, at approximately no.89 St Martin’s Lane.
It is possible that this was the house occupied by the engraver John Pine until his death in 1756, and then by his son, the painter Robert Edge Pine. John Pine and Sandby had collaborated on a print of the East prospect of Nottingham published in 1751. The Pine’s house was next door on the Pavement at St Martins Lane to no 75 - Old Slaughter’s the famous coffee house.
Is that Mr Pine working in the bay window?
......................
Barnes, William. To be sold under prime cost the remainder
of the stock of paper hangings of Mr. William Barnes, deceased, at his late
dwelling house in the broad part of St. Martin's Court, near Leicester Fields
... (Daily Advertiser 3 Oct 1761)
...........................
Locating St Martin's Court.
South of and parallel with Newport Street.
Between Castle Street on the West and St Martin's Lane on the East.
Castle Street appears in the parish rate books in 1676.
Strype's Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, in the 1720 edition, Newport street, a very good Place, with well built Houses on the North Side, which is in St. Annes' Parish; the other Side being but ordinary, and inhabited by Tradesmen, several of which are French: It butts upon Long Acre, from which it is parted by St. Martin's Lane.
Strype says Castle street lyeth on the Backside of Leicester Fields and St. Martin's Lane, and runneth down unto the Back Gate of the Mewse; near unto which is Duke's Court, which leadeth into St. Martin's Lane, against the Church; a large well built Court, with a Free-stone Pavement, inhabited by several French Families
Strype describes St Martin's Court (17 on the map below) as "a large handsome Court, with good new built Houses, and a Free-stone Pavement, having a Passage into Castle-street; and in the Midst it hath an open Square, at the End of which there is another Passage into Castle-street". Cecil Court (16 below), also a new built Court, with very good Houses, fit for good Inhabitants, and hath a large Passage, with a Freestone Pavement, into Castle-street, and out of this Court is a Passage into St. Martin's Court.
Suggesting that these two courts were relatively recently built.
For a very useful searchable resource see -
https://www.connectedhistories.org/resources/st/
............................
Crop from Stow's revised Map of 1755.
St Martin's Court is No. 17 on this map.
___________
The North End of St Martin's Lane.
Horwood's Map of London 1799.
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1840
This plan was ordered by the House of Commons and is titled in the top right border ''FIRST REPORT ON METROPOLIS IMPROVEMENTS - 1840''. It shows the extension of Longacre into Leicester Square, beyond to Princes Street and the widening of Upper St Martin's Lane. The areas coloured pink are those thatneed to be destroyed to make way for the improvements.
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Ordnance Survey 1871.
National Libraries of Scotland.
From 1843 - 46 Cranbourn Street was widened and extended from Castle Street through to Long Acre after the land was purchased by the Commissioners of Woods and Forest.
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols33-4/pp339-359
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Goad's Insurance Map, 1888.
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The two images above from -
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol20/pt3/plate-103
Castle Street was entirely demolished in the 1880s to enable the creation of Charing Cross Road.
........................
Cecil Court.
Built in the 1670's.
John Strype, in his Survey of the Cities of London &
Westminster from 1720, described it as “a new built Court, with very good
Houses, fit for good Inhabitants”.
Three houses on the North side were burnt down in a suspected arson in 1735.
As well as reaching Cranbourn-Alley, the fire spread into St
Martin’s Court, taking with it a further fifteen houses. The Daily Journal, on
June 11, 1735, noted how the fire “continued with great Fury for the Space of
two Hours before water could be got to supply the Engines”. The then Prince of
Wales, Prince Frederick, was involved directing engines and encouraging the
firemen from a house in St Martin’s Court.
"His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, the Lord James Cavendish, Sir Thomas Hobby, and
Mr Cornwallis were present; a detachment of Foot Guards also assisted: His
Royal Highness went of top of a house in St Martin’s-Court to take a View of
it, and the came down to direct the Engines, and animate the Firemen & c.”
see - https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t17350702-42
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Cecil Court North side, 1892.
Looking rather down at heel.
After a prolonged period of neglect by the landlord, the then current Prime Minister Lord Salisbury and just prior to demolition and rebuilding.
Watercolour by Frederick Calvert.
Image from Westminster Archives.
https://thelastbookshop.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/a-walk-through-cecil-courts-history/
The child prodigy Mozart and his family lodged at no. 9? (21 on Horwood's Map) in 1764 with barber John Couzin.
June 1764 advertisement in the London Gazette for a concert
at Spring Garden (St James’s Park) informs the reader as follows: “tickets at
half a guinea each; to be had of Mr Mozart, Mr Couzin’s, Hair Cutter, in Cecil
Court”.
see the excellent - https://www.cecilcourt.co.uk/a-history-of-cecil-court
from the above website - Charles Booth, in the 1880's preparing his famous ‘poverty maps’ -
large-scale surveys in which the wealthy were differentiated from the ‘very
poor’ and ‘semi-criminal’ by careful colour coding. His original notebooks are
held by the LSE, and he describes the two neighbouring Courts (in B354 p. 185)
as follows: St Martin’s Court had “residential chambers inhabited by all sorts.
Respectable otherwise. Shops below. The same with Cecil Court all red rather
than the purple …” Red was the colour Booth used for ‘comfortable’ whereas
purple denoted ‘poor & comfortable’.
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For a very useful article recently published on the artistic community in the area in and around St Martin's Lane in the 18th Century see -
https://www.journal18.org/issue15/st-martins-lane-neighborhood-as-art-world/
I will expand on the subject in due course.
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So called Agas view of London c. 1651 from an original c.1561.
https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/map.htm
In 1608–9 the Earl of Salisbury bought four acres of ground the original "Swan Close, on the west side of the lane,
which included the whole of the frontage from the parish boundary, i.e. Newport
Street, down to what is now the south-west corner of St. Martin's Lane.
Newport Street appears in The St Martins Parish rate books in 1654
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Corner of Castle Street and Hemmings Row.
A house in Hemmings Row at one time had on it the name and date of 1680.
The east side of Castle Street was demolished in 1886 to make way for the building of Charing Cross Road.
The last house in Hemmings Row was demolished in 1889.
Image below from the London Topographical Society Journal of 1899.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31210010611356&view=2up&seq=26
https://londontopsoc.org/library/the-societys-journal/
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White Hart Court - to the West behind Peters Court looking rather tired.
Difficult to tell in which direction the artist is looking
Just prior to demolition.
J.P. Emslie 1886.
.
Printed 1766 - 79 when the Darleys were at 39 the Strand.
British Museum.
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The St Martin's Lane Academy in Peter's Court which doglegged between Hemming's Row /Rents, (formerly Dirty Lane) and St Martin's Lane.
Some notes.
(First draught).
Strype's Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, in the 1720 edition,
"Peters Court, a very handsome and gentile Place, with good Houses, well contrived, with little Gardens to them".
Heming's Rents, opposite to Shandois-street, hath a great Passage into Leicester Fields, both for Foot and Horse: Its Buildings are on the North Side, the other Side having the Wall of St. Martin's Church Yard; and the Trouble that the Carts and Coaches make in their frequent Passage occasions it not to be over well inhabited.
Duke's
Court, already treated of, between which and this Heming's Rents are three
small and ordinary Courts, viz. Ellis Court, Grant's Court, and Red Lyon Court.
Then near unto the Strand is the Checker Inn, or Court, having a Passage into
the Strand; in which Part there are some Houses, the best of which is a Tavern.
St. Martin's Lane, a very long Street, which butteth on Northumberland House in the Strand, and runneth Northwards beyond Long Acre, unto the new Buildings in Cook and Pye Fields. This Street is a very great Through-fare both for Foot and Horse, and is well inhabited, having good built Houses, especially the Western Side, from Hemming's Row unto Newport-street; and since the pulling down of the Brick Wall before the Houses, and the Courts laid open, with a fine Free- stone Pavement, secured from Carts and Coaches by handsome Posts set up, it hath much added to the Beauty of the Street, and the Conveniency of the Inhabitants. In this Street are a great many Courts and Alleys.
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Vanderbank and Cheron - The first St Martin's Lane Academy.1720 - 24.
John Vanderbank (1694 - 1739).
Louis Cheron (1660 - 1725). Huguenot working in London from 1693.
The first St Martin's Lane Academy was a successor to the school founded in 1711 by Sir James Thornhill in Great Queen Street, it was organized in Peters Court by Louis Chéron and John Vanderbank from October 1720.
This drawing school had attracted many of the leading figures in British art and design, including Joseph Highmore, William Kent, Arthur Pond, and William Hogarth, but it didn’t last long. Hogarth recalled that 'this lasted a few years but the treasurer sinking the subscription money the lamp stove etc, were seized for rent and the whole affair put a stop to' (Kitson, 93).
This academy became defunct with the death of Cheron and the departure of Vanderbank briefly for France to escape his creditors in 1724.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vanderbank
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At the entrance to Peters Court which was entered between 110 and 111 St Martin's Lane was Tom's Coffee House which was established before 1696.
The Hand-in-Hand or Amiable Contributors for Insuring from Loss by Fire, was formed in 1696 at Tom’s Coffee House, St Martin’s Lane, Westminster, with about a hundred initial investors. The business quickly grew so that in 1704, for instance, the Hand-in-Hand issued 7,300 policies insuring premises
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Peters Court.
Image below from the Graphic 25 August 1894.
This appears to be in the alley looking west.
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Image from Royal Academy. attrib. William Sandby. (fl 1862).
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/the-old-academy-in-st-martins-lane
Drawing from History of the Royal Academy by William Sandby Pub. 1862.
available on line at
https://archive.org/details/historyofroyalac01sandiala/page/n9/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater
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Peter's Court. between 110 and 111 St Martin's Lane.
Mid 19th century woodcut.
Described as at no. 111 about 6 doors North from Hemmings Row in John Lockie’s Topography of London (1810).
see - https://archive.org/details/lockiestopograph00lockiala/page/n1/mode/2up
Hemmings Rents/Row - probably built by John Hemming, Apothecary, who died 1701.
Parker, Thomas, Hemmings Row, St Martin's Lane, London,
carver and cm (1748–54). Free of the Joiners’ Co., 6 September 1748 by
patrimony. His father was Edward Parker. In 1754 subscribed to Chippendale's
Director. [GL, Joiners’ Co. records; Westminster poll bk]
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Mr Marie's Dancing School, Peters Court, c 1710.
Peter's Court, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, west side, between Nos. 110 and 111. In 1710 the goods of Mrs. Selby, sword cutler, were advertised to be sold "at the Dancing School in Peter's Court, against Tom's Coffee-house in S. Martin's Lane."
This dancing school was afterwards the first studio of Roubiliac the sculptor. Hogarth recounts the story of its foundation :—
"Sir James (Thornhill] dying (1734) I became possessed of his neglected apparatus and thinking that an academy, if conducted on moderate principles would be useful, I proposed that a number of artists should enter into a subscription for the hire of a place large enough to admit of thirty or forty persons drawing after a naked figure.
This proposition having been agreed to, a room was taken in [Peter's Court] St. Martin's Lane. I lent to the society the furniture that had belonged to Sir James's Academy, and attributing the failure of the previous academies to the leading members having assumed a superiority which their fellow students could not brook, I proposed that every member should contribute an equal sum towards the support the establishment, and have an equal right to vote on every question relative to its affairs. By these regulations the Academy has now existed nearly thirty years, and is, for every useful purpose, equal to that in France, or any other".—Hogarth.
Situated in Russell’s Meeting House, a former Presbyterian chapel in Peter’s Court, the St Martin’s Lane Academy flourished from 1735 under Hogarth’s leadership, offering a place for artists and craftsman to study from life models.
There are no confirmed images of this building which was demolished in about 1776. The drawing and painting below possibly show the interior - I suggest that it probably had two main floors and further residential accommodation.
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William Hogarth married Jane Thornhill his masters daughter clandestinely, at Old Paddington church on 23 March 1729.
Thornhill died 13 May 1734.
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The Society of Friend's Meeting House in Peter's Court.
The former Presbyterian Russels Meeting House and Dancing School was demolished and rebuilt by as a Quaker Meeting House.
In 1776, The Society of Friends acquired the site on a 99-year lease from the Earl of Salisbury. Their previous dilapidated meeting house was at Little Almonary, Westminster.
This Meeting House was built on the site of the building that had previously been occupied by the St Martin's Lane Academy in Peter’s Court and could be accessed either from St Martin's Lane or Hemming’s Row. The construction of the meeting house required the demolition of a number of properties, including what had been the former home/studio of the sculptor Louis-François Roubiliac.
Costing £2,634, with a Dr Fothergill the principal benefactor, this meeting house, with its commodious galleried interior, was considered one of the best in London. Butler gives the architect as John Bevan (probably John Bevans of Plaistow, see Colvin, p. 123).
In 1845 the remainder of the plot which had been let on a building lease was filled with four dwelling houses let to members of the Society.
For details of the lease of the Meeting house and three dwellings houses given by the Earl of Salisbury to the representatives of the Quakers David Barclay and Daniel Mildred with the restrictions that an agreement "made between the late Earl of Salisbury of the one part and one David Barclay and others of the other part the said David Barclay and the several other persons therein mentioned agreed that they would at their Costs and Charges build one New Erection or Building in manner therein mentioned for the purpose of being used as a Meeting house or place of Worship by the Society of People called Quakers in consideration of a Lease being made to them of two Messages or Tenements with their Appurtenances thereunto belonging then in the Occupation of Thomas Northaw and Danl.Magrath situate in Peters Court near Saint Martin's Lane"
"That the Basement Story of the said Meeting house in the said Rate mentioned is divided into a Number of Small Rooms one of which is occupied by a Person called a Door keeper whose Business is to attend the Door when necessary and keep the said Meeting house clean for which service [..] he has a Small Yearly Salary - That the remaining Apartments are either not occupied or appropriated to the use of Poor Persons maintained by the Donations of the People called Quakers That the said Meeting house is solely appropriated to Religious and Charitable Purposes ......."
see -
- https://www.londonlives.org/browse.jspdiv=LMSMPS50862PS508620246&terms=Peters%20Court#highlight
and the next page of this document -
https://www.londonlives.org/browse.jsp?div=LMSMPS50862PS508620247
________________
List of Members of the second St Martin's Lane Academy.
In 1988, Ilaria Bagnamini published a very useful check-list of members of the St. Martin’s Lane Academy in Volume 54 of the Walpole Society. Bagnamini’s list is compiled from Vertue’s notebooks, the subscribers to first edition of Kirby’s Method of Perspective, and Wine and Walnuts (1823).
Walpole Society Journal
- St Martin's Lane Academy. List of Members compiled by Ilaria Bignamini
The list below is a first step towards a more complete
survey of the membership of the second Academy established in St Martin's Lane.
Seventy-seven subscribers have been identified out of a
total membership of eighty-three (93%).
The total membership includes both artist-teachers and
students. In the list below the member's name is given first in the spelling of
Vertue, Kirby or Pyne and then (in upper-case letters) in modern spelling.
Dates of birth and death as well as brief descriptions of
the profession of each subscriber are added.
As for identifications, details are given in footnotes
together with biographical data relevant to the history of the Academy. The
list is compiled alphabetically according to the modern spelling of names.
The word 'Vertue' and the dates '1754' and '1823' recorded
in the column on the right indicate the source from which information has been
derived.
In cross-reference, this list is referred to as 'SMLA2 (List
Mr. James Basire, Engraver. 1754
Thomas Beech portrait painter. 1823
Charles Bibb (fl.
1764—65), engraver 1823
Black Thomas (fl. 1738—77), painter of portraits, genre and
drapery – 1823.
Mr Jacob Bonneau Sr, Drawing Masters (d. 1786), engraver and drawing—master – 1754.
Burch Edward (1730—1814), gem engraver and medallist – 1823.
Burgess William (d. 1812), crayonist and drawing-master –
1823.
Campers Peter (1722—89), Dutch surgeon and anatomist - no
list.
Charles Catton Sr. (1728—98), Coach painter -painter of
landscapes and animals, 1754 - 1823
Mr William Cazal, (fl. 1754), drawing-master 1754
Mr Charles Cheere (fl. 1754—88), son of Henry Cheere and
nephew of John Cheere - 1754
Giovanni Battista (1727—85), historical and decorative
painter - 1823
John Collett (imitator of Hogarth) (c. 1725—80), genre
painter 1823
William Collins, (1721—93), sculptor - 1754 – 1823.
Richard Cosway (1742—1821), miniature painter 1823.
Mr Richard Dalton, (c. 1715—91), draughtsman, drawing-master
and art dealer 1754.
Dance, Nathaniel (1735—1811), painter of portraits and
histories – 1823.
Mr John Donowell,
(fl. 1753—86), architectural and topographical draughtsman
R. Dubourg. 1823.
Richard Earlom (1743-1822 (engr. Of C1aude's Liber ver – 1823.
Edward Edwards (1738-1806), painter and draughtman no list
Ellis (Ellys), John (1701-57), portrait painter Vertue
Evans George (fl. 1764-d. before 1770), house and portrait
painter – 1823.
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88), painter of portraits and
landscapes no list
Gravelot Hubert (1699-1773), designer and book illustrator
Vertue
J. A. Gresse John Alexander (1741—94), (who taught Her late
Majesty and the princesses to design the human figure miniature painter and
drawing-master - 1823
Griggs - 1823.
Mr Charles Grignion, (1721-1810), Engraver 1754 1823
Mr John Gwyn, (1713-86), Architect -1754
Mr Francis Hayman, Frank
(1708—76), painter of histories, portraits and genre Vertue – 1754 – 1823.
Mr Richard Hayward, (1728—1800 Statuary / sculptor - 1754.
Mr Hogarth, (1697-1764), painter and engraver Vertue, 1754 –
1823.
JONES, Thomas (1742—1803), landscape painter - no list.
Mr William Keable, portrait painter 1754 – 1823.
Tilly Kettle (1735—86), (painter who went to the east)
portrait painter – 1823.
John Joshua Kirby (1716—74), topographical draughtsman and
drawing-master 1754 – 1823.
Mr ... landscape painter"
George Lambert (1700—65), landscape painter Vertue
James Lambert (fl. 1761—73), (sculpt. pupil of RoubiIiac) sculptor
1823.
Lewis Lattifere? - 1823
William Linnell (d.
1763), wood carver and cabinet-maker - 1823.
Mr Robert Maberly, (fl. 1754), painter. - 1754
Mr James M 'Ardell, (Macardell) (c. 1729—65), engraver – 1754.
Giuseppe Marchi (c.
1721—1808), (sort of right hand of Reynolds) portrait painter and engraver -1823
W. Marlowe (1740-1813), topographical and landscape painter
– 1823.
David Martin (1737—97), portrait painter – 1823.
Jeremy (Jeremiah) Meyer (1735—89), miniature painter of
history and portraits – 1823.
John Hamilton Mortimer (1740-79), painter of 1823.
Mr G.F. Moser, George Michael (1706—83), chaser - 1754 – 1823.
Mr Johann (John) Sebastian Müller, Engraver – 1754.
Mr Francis Milner. Newton, (1720-94) portrait painter - 1754
- 1823
Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823), sculptor - 1823
Christopher Norton (d. 1799), painter and engraver - 1823
Mr James Paine, Sr (1717—89), architect - 1754
William Pars (1742—82), (who was sent to Greece by the
Dilettanti) painter and topographical draughtsman - 1823
Francis Parsons (d.
1804), portrait painter – 1823.
Allan Ramsay (1713—84), portrait painter – 1823.
R. Ratcliffe – 1823.
Nicholas Reed (c. 1733—87), (Read) (another pupil of Roubiliac) – 1823.
Biagio Rebecca (1735-1808), (the facetious painter)"
decorative and historical painter – 1823.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92),
painter of portraits and histories – 1823.
Richmond ? - 1823
Mr Edward Rooker Jun (1711—74), Engraver - 1754.
Richard Roper, (fl. r 761—65), painter of portraits and
animals - 1823
Louis François Roubiliac (1702/5—62), sculptor - Vertue
H Rowe (fl. 1799) - 1823
Francis Rubenstein (d. 1762), (still-life and drapery painter) – 1823.
John Russell (1745—1806), painter of portraits and crayonist
– 1823.
Mr Samuel Scott, (c. 1702—72), marine painter - 1754.
John Thomas Seton (fl. 1758—1806), portrait painter - 1823
John Shackelton, Esq. (d. 1767), principal Painter to his
Majesty - portrait painter - 1754.
Charles Sherlock (William) (fl. 175B.1806), painter and
engraver – 1823.
John Taylor (1739—1838), portraitist and drawing-master – 1823.
Robert Terry (1731—after 1770, painter – 1823.
Benjamin Vandergucht (1753—94), (painter and then picture
dealer)" – 1823.
Mr Sam. Wale, (1721-86), painter, designer and engraver. – 1754
– 1823.
Mr Anthony Walker (1726-65), Engraver - 1754 – 1823.
Isaac Ware (d. 1766), architect - Vertue
Rev. James Wills (fl. 1740—1777), Treasurer painter of
portraits and histories - Vertue – 1754.
Richard Wilson (1713—82), landscape painter - 1823
William Woollet (1735-85), an engraver -1823.
Richard Yeo, (d. 1779), gem and seal engraver Vertue - 1754
Johann J Zoffany (1733—1810), painter of portraits and
histories -1823.
.................................................
https://kirbyandhisworld.wordpress.com/tag/st-martins-lane-academy/
In 1988, Ilaria Bagnamini published a very useful check-list of members of the St. Martin’s Lane Academy in Volume 54 of the Walpole Society. Bagnamini’s list is compiled from Vertue’s notebooks, the subscribers to first edition of Kirby’s Method of Perspective, and Wine and Walnuts (1823). Kirby’s second edition, published in 1755, contains many more subscribers, including more members of the Academy.
Here is
a supplemental list of names indicated in the second edition that did not make
it onto Bagnamini’s list.
Mr. Allen, Painter
Mr. Thomas Carter, Statuary
Mr. Thomas Major, 2 Books
.......................................
The images of the artists drawing at the Academy.
Height: Height: 478 millimetres -Width: Width: 744 millimetres.
This drawing as far as I can tell does not show the drawing room at the R.A. in Somerset House and is more likely to be either the building in Pall Mall or the Peters Court Building.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1990-0728-5
...........................
This painting was purchased by the Royal Academy in 1885 as possibly by Hogarth. I think they would like to have believed that the dog was perhaps Hogarth's pug Trump.
There has been suggestions made that it is a 19th century pastiche copied from the British Museum Drawing above.
I don't feel qualified enough to judge whether it is 19th century but the two works would seem to be related!
Life Class at St Martin's Lane Academy, 1761-62.
Johann Zoffany, RA (1733 - 1810).
Royal Academy.
The St Martin’s Lane Academy at Peters Court was set up in the Autumn of 1735 under the
guidance of William Hogarth (1697–1764) and John Ellys and continued to operate until 1767, when its furnishings and materials were removed to Pall Mall for use in the new
Royal Academy Schools.
The Academy offered life drawing sessions from male and female nude models. Members joined for a fee of two guineas for the first season, 1.5 for subsequent seasons.
Sessions were offered nightly during
the week from October to March or April, beginning at 5:30 in the evening. Both
George Vertue and Hogarth claim that thirty to forty members enrolled each
season.
see - https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols29-30/pt1/pp346-348
In the centre foreground is George Michael Moser (1704–1783)
who by 1760 was director of this academy. He had been organising life classes
in London since the 1730s and went on to be the first Keeper of the RA Schools.
Other identified figures include John Malin who is shown reaching into the
cupboard, and who later became the porter and occasional model at the RA
Schools. To his right is Giuseppe Marchi who travelled from Italy in 1752 to be
the studio assistant of Sir Joshua Reynolds. At the back of the room are casts
of antique busts including a Caracalla and framed life drawings in chalk, both of which would have
been present to act as fine exemplars for artists attending this academy.
.........................
Old Slaughter's Coffee House.
On the Pavement on the West side of St Martin's Lane.
Old Slaughter's Coffee House at Nos. 75 and 74, on the west side of St. Martin's Lane was founded in 1692 by Thomas Slaughter.
The house on the right was previously occupied by the actor Beard.
It was demolished
circa 1843 when Cranborne Street was cut through from Castle Street to Long Acre.
In 1754 the architect James Paine rebuilt numbers 76 and 77 St. Martin’s Lane (the house on the left above) and rented, the houses he had built in Little Court (accessed from Castle Street) behind, to the book illustrator and engraver Samuel Wale and the architect and writer John Gwynn. Paine’s rebuilt the house immediately next door to Old Slaughter’s Coffeehouse.
Wale and Gwynn were both members of the St Martin's Lane Academy.
...............
Harris's List 1788. Little Court.
Harris’s List of Covent-Garden Ladies: or, Man of Pleasure’s
Kalender, For the YEAR, 1788. Containing the Histories and some curious
Anecdotes of the most celebrated Ladies now on the Town, and also many of their
Keepers
Another later occupant of Little Court,
Miss W—ls—n, No 1, Little-court, Castle-street, Leicester Fields.
Nature for meat and drink provides a place,
And when receiv'd they fill their certain space;
Hence thirst and
hunger may be satisfy'd,
But this repletion
is to love deny'd.
https://www.romanticlondon.org/harris-list-1788/#14/51.5119/-0.1067
--------------
104 St Martin's Lane.
Joshua Reynolds and later, Francis Hayman, lived /worked at 104, St. Martin’s Lane.
5 June 1753, Reynolds corresponded with Joseph Wilton - he gave his address as opposite Mays Buildings
By 1754, Joshua Reynolds had left his lodgings adjacent to
the St. Martin’s Lane Academy in the house of the “man midwife” and surgeon
Christopher Kelly in St. Martin’s Lane and moved to Leicester Fields (Square).
John van Nost III at 104 St Martins Lane.
'Although it is less well-documented, Nost appears to have
had a career? in London as well as Dublin. In 1763 he was listed in Mortimer’s
Universal Director ‘at Mr Clarke’s, St Martin’s-lane, opposite May’s-buildings’
(p 28; Rate-Books 1763, Cleansing Street Rates, F6007).
J T Smith later recollected that Nost had lived at 104 St
Martin’s Lane, in a large house once inhabited and decorated by King George I’s
sergeant painter, Sir James Thornhill.
Smith considered Nost’s most noteworthy work to be ‘the
famous mask of Garrick from his face’ (55), which had been in Nathaniel Smith’s
collection, but had finished up in a ‘gallery of theatrical pictures, busts
&c’ owned by a Mr Mathews of Highgate Hill. According to the actor,
Macklin, Nost’s bust of Garrick was ‘in every barber’s shop-window, as a block
for wigs’ (Smith 1828, v.2, 228, 275)'
................................
109 St Martin's Lane.
John Channon (1711 - 83) cabinet maker was on the pavement at 109, St Martin's Lane.
It has been suggested that it was previously described as The sign of the Golden Fleece
At St Martin's Lane from 1737 until at least 1773.
Daily Advertiser, 23 November 1742: ‘Mr Eade having left off
his publick school in St. Martin's Lane, continues to teach (only abroad) some
few Persons Writing, Arithmetic and Merchants’ Accounts, in a very short and
easy Method. His Lodgings are at Mr. Channon's, a Cabinet-Warehouse, upon the
Pavement in St. Martin's Lane’.
https://bifmo.furniturehistorysociety.org/entry/channon-john-1711-83
For an excellent overview of his life and career see
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dict-english-furniture-makers/c
For a detailed study of Channon see Leeds Exhibition Catalogue - John Channon and Brass Inlaid Furniture, Christopher Gilbert and Tessa Murdoch, pub. 1993.
Hintz was working at The Porcupine Newport St in 1730's.
................................
William Hubert (d.1740).
On the Pavement in St Martins Lane.
Extract from John Channon and Brass Inlaid Furniture, Christopher Gilbert and Tessa Murdoch, pub. 1993.
The entire Collection Of Mr. Wm Hubert, Of St. Martin's Lane, (who is leaving Off business) Consisting Of several valuable Pictures with Great Variety Of most Beautiful Florence and FrenchCabinets, inlaid with Oriental Agates, Mocos, Jaspers, Bloodstones and Lapis Lazuli etc., with Bookcases and Buroes richly inlaid, and ornamented with Bronze, finely chased and repaired and giltwith Gold. As likewise great Choice of very curious Bronze Lustres, Girandoles, Andirons, andBranches, gilt and repaired in the finest French Taste.24
The London Evening Post announced on 15 April 1740 his sudden death: 'Mr Hubert, a French Gentleman, a great Dealer in Pictures, curious Stones, etc. '25 His will specifies that all his belongings were left to 'my very dear wife Marianne Gandron to disperse as she pleases' .26 Early in 1741 a further sale of 'The entire Collection of Mr W. Hubert, late of St Martin's Lane, deceas'd' was held at Ford's auction house in the Haymarket,'catalogues to be had Gratis at Mrs Hubert's on the Pavement in St Martin's Lane'.27
Although the notice of this second sale does not specify brass-inlaid furniture, the widow Hubert evidently continued her husband's business for ten years after his death from the same premises in St Martin's Lane.
The Christopher Cock Sale of 1750.
A Catalogue of the Collection of Mr. William Hubert of St.
Martin's Lane, Consisting of Several Valuable Pictures and Other Curiosities
... which Will be Sold by Auction on Monday the Twenty Eighth of April, and the
Following Days, ... at Mr. Cock's Great Room in the Piazza's, Covent-Garden ...
Catalogues Will be Deliver'd Gratis on Tuesday the 22nd, at Mr. Hubert's on the
Pavement, in St. Martin's Lane, and at the Place of Sale.
In April 1751 the General Advertiser announced a further sale at Ford's auction house (known as 'Raphael's Academy') in the Haymarket which was occasioned by Mrs Hubert's return to France. The sale consisted of -
"A collection of Italian, French and Flemish Pictures, lately belonging to a Person of Distinction, deceas'd, together with some curious Bronzes, large Italian Cabinets, French Buroe Tables inlaid and ornamented with Brass etc: and likewise a large and capital Picture Of the Judgement of Paris by Rubens and the well known cartoon of the Murder of the Innocents by Raphael, both Formerly belonging to Mr. William Hubert of St. Martins Lane, deceased; which must now be sold without Reserve and at the same time will be sold in one lot his curious cabinet Of Casts, pastes and impressions, containing upwards Of 3,000 taken (by particular desire) from the most celebrated andvaluable antique gems in the King Of France's collection.
In 1730 Hubert submitted a bill to Sir Robert Walpole for Chandeliers see Country Life -
William Hubert of St Martin’s Lane specialized in
supplying metal lighting equipment and was paid for ‘four pair of Chandeliers
and Branches and six pairs of Medal Branches’ for Prince Frederick’s use in
September 1732.
see - https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1323186/royal-mantel-clock-clay-charles/
..............................................
The Pine Family.
John Pine (1691 - 1756) kept a print shop on the west side of St Martin's Lane, (probably the premises later occupied by his son Robert Edge Pine who was at no 89 St Martin's Lane on the North Corner of St Martin's Court.
John Pine was the publisher of John Roques map of London in 1746, Roque was at that time living at Hyde Park Corner.
John Pine.
Mezzotint after Hogarth.
-------------------
Matthias Lock (1710 - 65) - In 1744 he was at ‘Nottingham Court, Castle Street, near Long Acre. He advertised in 1748 that he was offering evening drawing-classes for tradesmen and students in his premises "Facing Old Slaughter's Coffee House".
.
https://bifmo.furniturehistorysociety.org/entry/lock-matthias-1710-65
........................
Cobb and Vile.
John Cobb (1715 - 78) the firm of Cobb and Vile furniture makers was at 72 St Martin's Lane.
On the Corner with Long Acre.
William Hallet (1707 - 81) premises were on the corner of St Martin's Lane and Longacre from 1752, the building having previously been occupied from 1740 by Thomas Harrache Jeweller, Goldsmith and Toyman (He was the sole executor of the will of Roubiliac).
Thomas Harrache (1717 - 85) later moved to the Golden Ball and Pearl, in Pall Mall.
The Roubiliac bank account records with Drummonds for the years 1752 to 1757 survives.
Huguenot names which recur in the ledgers include 'Mr.
Minett, Mr. Andrew Regnier (possibly a relative of Roubiliac's fourth wife), Mr.
Timberel and Mr. Harache.
Roubiliac's ledgers show that he paid Mr. Harrache 10 guineas on November 1st, 1753; £20 on March 4th, 1755, and received £20 from Tho. Harrache on May 9th, 1755. On December 10th, 1757, Roubiliac paid his friend a further £20.
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/30695656.pdf
Joshua Reynolds and later Francis Hayman - resided at 104 St Martin's Lane. It had an earlier painted staircase
........................
Roubiliac's Home, Studio Workshop and Thomas Chippendales premises on the East side of St Martin's Lane.
In 1741 Roubiliac moved from Peter's Court on the west side to what became 63 St Martin's Lane on the East side and remained there until he died in 1762.
In 1747 John Trotter upholder and cabinet maker took out a Sun insurance policy on the contents of his apartments and timber workshops over the Roubiliac studio.
Trotter, John, ‘at Mr. Roubiliac Statuary on the East side of St. Martin's Lane in the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields’, London, upholder and cm (1746/47). Took out a Sun Insurance policy on 13 January 1746/47 for £300 on household goods and stock in trade in his apartments; and £400 on utensils and stock in his three timber workshops, partly over Roubiliac's workshop and partly over yard. [GL, Sun MS vol. 79, ref. 107286]
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dict-english-furniture-makers/t
This must be the very successful John Trotter (c.1713 - 99), Cabinet maker to George II whose business was at 43 Frith Street, Soho. from 1748 - 99. Liveryman in the Joiners Company - originally came from Scotland.
Trotter subscriber To Chippendale's Gentleman's.. Cabinet Maker, 1754.
Bought Horton Place nr Epsom in 1768.
John and Coutts Trotter.
The Salisbury and Winchester Journal from 29 June 1752 reported:- ‘A few days since was married at Mordaunt [sic] College, Black-Heath, Mr John Trotter, an eminent Cabinetmaker and Upholder, in Frith Street, St Ann’s, Soho, to Miss Betts, an agreeable young lady with a Fortune of Five Thousand Pounds’
.......................
Roubiliac's assistant Nicholas Read took over the premises after the death of Roubiliac in 1762.
Nicholas Read in an advertisement in March 1762 he
advertised among others busts of Garrick and Pope "Any persons who are
related to the said gentlemen, or holding them in esteem". They were to be
supplied "considerably cheaper than their usual price" before the
moulds were disposed of by public auction. Moulds in plaster for the bust of
Pope were lots 42 and 48 on the first day of Roubiliac's sale, 12 May 1762.
Newspaper cuttings at the RA relate to the award by the society in the
Strand [the Society of Arts] of a premium of 140 guineas to Nicholas Read for a
statue of Diana, marked April 1764
Read "lost his reason" from 1780 onwards and died on 11 July 1787. His will was read the
following day and is held at the National Archives at Kew
No. 67.—This building (probably the workshop /studio of Roubiliac) is sited in a courtyard off the east side of St. Martin's Lane, behind No. 63, and is three-storeyed, of brick and timber construction. The ground floor has been adapted and remodelled as offices.
The walls are of brick of modern work. The two upper floors appear to retain their original framing and fenestrations, and are now used as studios and workshops, by a firm of stage designers. They are timber framed, plastered on the exterior, with the roof tiled.
......................
Chippendale's Premises in St Martins Lane
Thomas Chippendale d. 1779, from December 1753 was at The Sign of the Chair" nos 61 and 62 St Martin's Lane with the workshops behind.
Chippendale is shown by the rate books to have occupied or used the first house on the west side of Somerset (Northumberland) Court to the East of Northumberland House, Strand from Midsummer, 1752, until Lady Day, 1753. Matthias Darley the engraver lived at the same address.
See - https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol20/pt3/pp115-122
59, 60, 61, and 62 St Martin's Lane.
Plan of Thomas Chippendale's Jr's premises on the East side of St Martin's Lane, 1803.
Taken from a Sun insurance policy.
1787 Haig and Chippendale at 60 St Martin's Lane.
Roubiliac house and workshop / studio until 1762 when he died was next door at no. 63. The premises were taken over by his assistant Nicholas Read.
The image from the excellent - https://www.journal18.org/issue15/st-martins-lane-neighborhood-as-art-world
No 66 in 1787 was occupied by coachmaker Charles Bigger.
On 5 April 1755 the Gentleman's Magazine reported a fire at the workshop which destroyed property including the tool chests of 22 workmen.
...........................
At Christmas 1749 Chippendale took a house in Conduit Court, a small court off Long Acre on the
At midsummer 1752 he moved to premises in Somerset
Court (Northumberland Court) adjoining Northumberland house. Throughout
1753 he and Darly were collaborating on the Director plates.
.........................
Matthias Darley (1721 - 80), Engraver.
Collaborator with Chippendale for his Director.
1749: Duke's Court, St Martin's Lane (Worms and
Baynton-Williams).
1753: Northumberland Court (ditto), 1754 Chippendale moved from this address to St Martin's Lane.
1750s: the Acorn, facing Hungerford, Strand (D,2.3238).
1756: At the Golden Acorn, opposite Hungerford Market,
Strand (Worms and Baynton-Williams)
1757: facing Little Suffolk Street, Hedge Lane
(1868,0808.4063 - this is likely to have been the address of a collaborator
rather than of Darly himself).
1758: Acorn, Fleet Market, Ludgate Hill (1868,0808.4114;
possibly a 'fake address')
1759: Cheapside (BM Satires 3687 and 3691)
1760: The Acorn, corner of Friday Street, Cheapside
(according to Heal's note on mount of Heal,59.50, Darly published "A New
Book of Cielings" from this address in 1760)
c.1760 The Golden Acorn, Long Acre, near St Martin's Lane
(2011,7084.68; this address was given at the baptism of the Darlys' first child
in 1761)
1762: The Acorn, Ryder's Court, Cranbourn Alley (Worms and
Baynton-Williams)
1765: Corner of Ryder's Court, Cranbourne Alley, Leicester
Fields (Worms and Baynton-Williams)
1766: Castle Street, Leicester Fields (Worms and
Baynton-Williams)
1766: facing New Round Court the Strand (this refers to the
same house as the two entries below. The Darly's announced their move in the
Daily Advertiser for 24 June 1766)
Late 1760s: Opposite New Round Court in the Strand
(Heal,100.27+)
1766-80: 39 Strand, on the corner of Buckingham Street,
London (Worms and Baynton-Williams)
..............................
The Garrick Street Demolitions and Development 1861, Plan.
Plan of New Street [ Covent Garden Approach (Garrick Street)] from Long acre to King street, Covent Garden - Metropolitan Board of Works. "Metropolitan Improvements"Edwards, Percy
1898.
...........................
Very interesting website with much information about Tallis' Views of London Streets.
Moseley's of New Street Covent Garden
https://londonstreetviews.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/john-moseley-son-plane-and-tool-makers/
..............................
Roubiliac at no 63, Chippendale at 59, 60, 61 and 62.
Old Slaughters coffee house is very conveniently opposite at 74 and 75.
Little Court off Castle Street, at the back of the house of James Paine (1717 - 89) (architect) in St Martin's Lane.
The two houses at the sign of the Golden Ball, Little Court were occupied by architects engravers and publishers Samuel Wale (1721 - 86) and John Gwynn (1713 -86) by 1755.
________________________________
96, St Martin's Lane - Some notes etc.
see my post
https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2024/01/96-st-martins-lane-westminster.html
This appears to have been a large, late 17th of four bays, of four storeys over a cellar.
With a finely carved shell hood over the front door (see below).
Occupants -
It was in the occupation of Dr Dickinson until 1706.
Dickinson was elected honorary fellow of the College of
Physicians in December 1664, but was not admitted a fellow till 1677. In 1684,
he came up to London and settled in St. Martin's Lane.
see https://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/edickinson.html
Baron Bloomberg 1707 - 14.
Lady Ecron 1715 - 16.
Tobias Jankins 1717.
John Rose 1718 - 31.
Lady Bloomer 1732.
Dr Misaubin 1732 - 34 - his widow carried on the business "Martha Misaubin, widow of Dr Misaubin continues to sell his famous anti venereal pills at her house in St Martins Lane". She moved houses in St Martins Lane in 1739 and 46 and died in 1749.
National Archives ref SP 36/158/1/67 - Folios 67-68. Martha Missaubin [Misaubin] widow, 'the unfortunate mother of John Edmund Missaubin' to the Lords Regents. Petition that the usual reward be published for the apprehension the offenders who murdered her son on Friday 15 instant [July 1740] near Marylebone. [The victim was buried 18 August 1740. The burial register notes 'found murdered'].
Date: 1740 July
16-1740 July 31
info above from Hugh Phillips pub. 1964.
Undated sketch by George Scharf
British Museum.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1862-0614-117
...........................................
96 St Martins Lane, c.1850.
Watercolour by John Wykeham Archer (1806 - 64).
Image courtesy Water Colour World.
.................................
96 St Martin's Lane. Undated drawing probably 1829, whilst Scharf was still living in St Martin's Lane
Allen Colourman, 'Laydies' School Plate on the front door of the house.
Drawing by George Scharf.
Image and passage below courtesy British Museum.
This house was previously the home of Huguenot 'Dr' John Misaubin (1673 -1734).
For much more on Misaubin see
https://www.thesquaremagazine.com/mag/article/202108the-much-maligned-dr-john-misaubin/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/014107680109400315
"Allen’s Colourman, situated a few doors away from Scharf’s house, at No. 96, was run by one Edward Prascey Allen. The shop, which is recorded as an artists’ supply shop from the 1790s at least, was located in the converted ground floor of one of the fashionable residences that had developed along St Martin’s Lane in the late 1600s.
between 1730 and 1734 it had been the residence of the notorious French doctor John Misaubin (1673-1734) who made his living selling a quack cure for venereal disease.
The ornate doorcase, to the right, in all probability dates to the period of residence by John (Jean) Misaubin (1673 - 1734) who had employed the French painter Andien de Clermont (active 1716-1783) to decorate the staircase of the impressive townhouse supposedly at a cost of 500 guineas.
When Scharf painted this view, a mid / late eighteenth-century shop front had been inserted into the façade of the once fashionable residence with jars of colours and brushes clearly displayed in the window.
A sign on the door of the house announces that the rest of the
house has been taken over by a school for ladies, run by one Sarah Watts. It
has been suggested that the figures of the adult man and boy might be Scharf
and his son George.
see - P. Jackson, 'George Scharf’s London:
Sketches and Watercolours of a Changing City. 1820-50' (London, 1987)".
..................................
John (Jean) Misaubin (1673 - 1734).
John Thomas Smith, states in -Nollekens And His Times: Comprehending A Life Of That Celebrated Sculptor; ...... that the house, No. 96, on the west side, " has a large staircase, curiously painted, of figures viewing a procession, which was executed for the famous Dr. Misaubin, about the year 1732, by a painter named Clermont, a Frenchman.
Behind the house there is a large room, the inside of which is given by Hogarth in his 'Rake's Progress,' where he has introduced portraits of the doctor and his Irish wife."
The Rainbow Coffee House in Lancaster Court, off St Martin’s Lane, on the South side of St Martin's Church.was in existence from 1702 to 1755. Until about 1730 it was known as a meeting place of French intellectuals. Old Slaughters at 84 St Martin's Lane later became the venue of choice after the Rainbow.
For the Rainbow Coffee House Group see -
https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-94590
..........................................
Arthur Calcott, (1709–22). Furniture maker - In 1709 his address
was New South St, St Martin's Lane but by 1720 he had moved to the Black-Moor
Head upon the Pavement in St Martin's Lane and on 18 July of that year insured
with the Sun Fire Office. [GL, Sun MS vol. 12, ref. 19052; Heal]
John Cambridge, cm (1775–78). At 12 Ranelagh St,
Pimlico in 1778 when he insured his utensils, stock and goods for £250 out of a
total cover of £500. Three years later his address was opposite Mays Buildings,
St Martin's Lane and his insurance cover had been increased to £400 and £700
respectively. [GL, Sun MS vol. 238, p. 381; vol. 266, p. 379]
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dict-english-furniture-makers/c
___________________________
Charles Peters and Peter's Court.
Dr Charles Peters died in 1714 at his Bathing House at the sign of the Castle, St Martin's Lane.
Hugh Philips - says no. 77 St Martin's Lane.
From C. J. S. Thompson's Quacks of Old London, published by Brentanos, 1928, and from Louis Trenchard More's Life of Isaac Newton, published by Scribners, 1934.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE VENEREAL DISEASE: DECLARING THE CAUSES, SIGNS, EFFECTS, And CURE thereof. With a DISCOURSE of the most Wonderful ANTIVENEREAL PILL.Prepared onely by CHARLES PETER, Chyrurgeon, and Practitioner in Physick. And are to be sold at his House in St. Martins-lane, near Long-acre, over against the Sign of the Castle.
https://ota.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/repository/xmlui/handle/20.500.12024/A54490
........................
"Lucatellu's or Lucatelli's Balsam " contained Venice Turpentine, Olive oil and Spanish wine washed in Rosewater, Red Sandal-wood or Dragon's blood " (this is not a mythical ingredient, but Calamus draco, still used for colouring medicines), " and Balsam of Peru. It was taken internally in wine and used externally for burns and wounds. Originated by an Italian, it was much in demand in London in the XVIIth century, and was sold by Charles Peter who lived in St. Martin's Lane, over against the sign of the Castle." Its uses were legion. " For the measell, plague or small-pox a half an ounce in a little broth ; . . . and against poison and the biting of a mad dog ; for the last you must dip lint and lay it upon the wounds beside taking it internally. There are other virtues of it; for wind, cholic, anoint the stomach, and so for bruises."
https://journals.sas.ac.uk/fhs/article/viewFile/4292/4244
..............
A search with A2A for Charles Peter produced - Metropolitan
archives -ACC/0401/070-085
This refers to 16 leases of premises on east side of Castle Street, on west
side (1710) and in passage leading to Red Lyon Inn (1717).
Principal Parties: Earl of Leicester, Viscount Lisle, Moore,
Egerton, Olmiers and others, Samuel Gunn, John Roos, Richard Bealing, Collins,
Bromwich, Charles Peter, George Walter and others, Sir Robert Chaplin, Thomas
Pembroke, Richard Greener, junior, Thomas Tindall, John Norbonne, John Forster.
This almost certainly refers to his properties in Hemmings Row, St Martins Lane and Peters Court.
In his will, PROB 11/548/318 dated 4 August 1714 he mentions 7 houses, four in Hemmings Row and three in St Martins Lane, but he also mentions property in Castle Street and Cecil Court.
Second wife Frances, son in law Samuel, daughter Beata, daughter Elizabeth.
__________________________
George Vertue lived at Belton Street, Drury Lane, London (in 1715), then Brownlow Street, Drury Lane, London (in 1719, 1744, 1750).
George Vertue (1684 - 1756) was born in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London. His parents served in the court of James II and his father may have later become a tailor.
He was first apprenticed to a silver engraver and later to Flemish engraver Michael Vandergucht.
His early work includes plates after Kneller, whose academy he attended from 1711. Vertue served as official engraver to the Society of Antiquaries (1717-56). In the 1720s he concentrated on portrait frontispieces, producing over 120 in total. From 1727 he was engraver to Oxford University. Vertue was also a publisher and ran a print shop near Drury Lane. In 1712 he began gathering information for a publication on the history of art in Britain, which remained unfinished at his death.
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Thomas Major - the Golden Head, Chandois Street, Upper end of St Martin's Lane, 1759 see self portrait engraving Royal Coll.
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By 1754, Joshua Reynolds had left his lodgings adjacent to the St. Martin’s Lane Academy in the house of the “man midwife” and surgeon Christopher Kelly in St. Martin’s Lane to establish his own house and studio around the corner on Great Newport Street.
Christopher Kelly lived here in 1749.
Kelly, Christopher, d. 1791, surgeon-turned-physician,
man-midwife. Served as navy surgeon before being disenfranchised in 1758 to
become licentiate of the College of Physicians. Taught midwifery at his house
in St Martin’s Lane using ‘a complete Sett of artificial women and children’,
‘necessary preparations’ and ‘real labours’ (Whitehall Evening Post, 30
September 1760)..
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Dr Maxwell Garthshore FRS. FSA. MD. (1732 - 1812).
101 St Martin's Lane.
Garthshore lived at Salisbury House, St Martins Lane for about 40 years until his death. The property and former residence of the Marquis of Salisbury.
The son of the George Garthshore, a minister in
Kirkcudbright, he was born there on 28 October 1732. After being educated at
the Kirkcudbright grammar school, he was apprenticed to a medical man in
Edinburgh at the age of fourteen, and attended medical classes in the
university. Before proceeding to his degree, Garthshore entered the army as
surgeon's mate when in his twenty-second year. In 1756 he settled at Uppingham,
succeeding (with the support of his cousin, Robert Maitland, a prosperous
London merchant) to the practice of John Fordyce
After practising at Uppingham for eight years, Garthshore moved to London, he graduated M.D. at Edinburgh 8 May 1764, and was admitted a licentiate of the London College of Physicians on 1 October 1764. He obtained a large practice as an accoucheur and was appointed physician to the British Lying-in Hospital in London. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society, on 23 March 1775, and of the Antiquarian Society of London.
In 1792 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were James Gregory, Daniel Rutherford, and Sir James Hall.
He was a fashionable physician of the old school, a sincere
Christian, and a generous donor. Anne Hunter, widow of John Hunter, received
provision from him. He died on 1 March 1812, and was buried in Bunhill Fields
cemetery
The property was taken over by Thomas Coutts.
Salisbury House in 1871.
Watercolour by Charles James Richardson
Image used with permission London Picture Archive.
https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?i=312902&WINID=1737470919500
London Directories 1808-1825 give Flight & Robson, organ
builders, 101 & 102 St. Martin's Lane. London Directory 1838 gives Robson
& Son, organ builders, 101 St. Martin's Lane. London Directory 1839 gives
Joseph Robson & Son, organ builders, 101 St. Martin's Lane."
The Flight & Robson partnership ended with the sale of 1832; the business at 101 St. Martin's Lane was acquired and carried on by T.J.F. Robson (Joseph's son) until his death in 1876.
Image below from British Museum.
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Beckwith & France.
St Martin’s Lane, London; cabinet maker and upholders (c.1777-1804).
The partnership of Samuel Beckwith and William France jnr
was established in 1777, after the death of Edward France in June of that year.
It is possible that Beckwith had left Chippendale (Beckwith was described as Mr
Chippendale’s clerk when he was a witness in a court case) and was with Edward
France prior to Edward’s death. On Edward’s death the business passed to his
younger brother William jnr, who was at 19 still a minor, so guardians were
appointed and they arranged the partnership between Samuel Beckwith and William
France.
On 14 October 1777 the new partnership took out an insurance policy for the France premises 101St Martin’s Lane which comprised a dwelling house, passage, warehouse, feather room, three timber workshops and a saw-house. Total cover for the property and stock was £4,000 [London Metropolitan Archives, Insurance records].
However, in 1778 the address 105 St
Martin’s Lane was recorded on a print by James Donowell of the Steine,
Brighton, indicating it could be obtained from ‘Messrs Beckwith and France’.
This must be a mistake, since when the lease was renewed in 1797 at a rent of
£80 per annum the address was confirmed as 101 St Martin’s Lane.
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Thomas Jefferys.
To
the nobility, gentry and others. John Lodge, engraver, late apprentice to Mr.
Jefferys, engraver and geographer to his Majesty, at the sixth house in St.
Martin's Lane, near Charing Cross, teaches gentlemen and ladies to etch and engrave
... and supplies gentlemen with maps, prints, &c ... (Daily Advertiser 22
Oct 1761) Thomas Jefferys, St. Martin's Lane, engraver, to surrender Nov. 6, 22
and Dec. 16, 1766 at Guildhall (London Gazette 4 Nov 1766). Certificate of
bankruptcy to be granted Feb. 10 1767 (London Gazette 20 Jan 1767)
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The Title deeds and leases for May's Buildings in the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries are in Hampshire Record Office.
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St. Martin's Workhouse, in Castle Street, south of Hemmings Row, was erected in 1772 on the old St Martin's burial ground.
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I will come back to this later.
https://friendsofmarblehill.org.uk/article/st-martins-academy-and-the-paintings-in-marble-hill/
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William Marcellus, Colourman.
12 St Martin's Lane.
William Marcellus, Strand, London from 1755, Child’s Court,
near Durham Yard, Strand 1759-1760, Exchange Court 1760-1763, Hungerford
Market, Strand 1764-1767, The Colour Shop, 12 St Martin’s Lane 1771-1776,
Chelsea 1776. Painter, later colourman.
William Marcellus (c.1731-1785) was the son of the shop sign
painter, Robert Marcellus of 392 Strand. He was christened at St
Martin-in-the-Fields in June 1733, and married Anna Amelia Moyer, or Moyse, at
St Paul Covent Garden in January 1755, when described as an eminent painter in
the Strand (Read’s Weekly Journal 11 January 1755). They had eight children,
christened at St Martin-in-the-Fields between 1755 and 1774. He took out
insurance from Child’s Court, near Durham Yard in the Strand, as a painter and
colourman on 24 December 1759, and from 12 St Martin’s Lane on 8 November 1771
(London Metropolitan Archives, Sun Fire Office policy registers, 131/172200,
210/304358). He can be found in rate books, 1760-7. In 1778 he was seeking
release from imprisonment for debt (London Gazette 2 June 1778). He died in
1785, age 54, and was buried at St John the Evangelist Drury Lane (Boyd’s
London Burials, accessed at Find My Past).
William Marcellus supplied colours for decorators but he
also advertised primed cloths in 1772 (Gazeteer and New Daily Advertiser 15
April 1772), and three years later offered ‘India Rubber, for taking out black
lead from paper, &c’ (London Evening Post 18 March 1775). As Marcellus
& Co, at the King’s Arms, St Martin’s Lane, the business advertised paints
for decorators, and also ‘Bladder colours and primed cloths for limners’
(Morning Post and Daily Advertiser 21 June 1775). He then put his lease and
stock-in-trade up for sale, stating that he was ‘going to remove to the upper
End of Church-Lane, Chelsea’ (Daily Advertiser 18 December 1775). A few weeks
later, he advertised thanking his friends helping extinguish a fire on his
premises in St Martin’s Lane (Daily Advertiser 8 January 1776), and the
following month his stock, utensils and lease were offered for sale at auction
(Daily Advertiser 27 February 1776).
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Some more watercolour drawings by the Sandby brothers.
The Piazza, Covent Garden.
Royal Collection.
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British Museum.
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Sold by Waddingtons. 2018.
Beaufort Buildings looking North to the Strand.
Thomas Sandby with figures perhaps by his brother Paul Sandby.
This wonderful drawing although not relevant is included here for the sheer pleasure of it.
Image from the British Museum.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1880-1113-2854
William Shipley School of Drawing.
From 1754 to 1761 Shipley ran a drawing school first sharing the premises with the Society of Arts before moving to Beaufort Buildings in the Strand.
Many distinguished artists were trained by him, including Richard Crossway, Ozias Humphry, John Hamilton Mortimer, Joseph Nollkens and William Pars.
456 x 618 mms.
for the Sandby's see - http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/73254/1/73254.pdf
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The South end of St Martin's Lane beyond Dukes Court, Charing Cross, The Kings Mews and the Strand were demolished in 1830 to make way for Trafalgar Square and the redevelopment of the West end of the Strand.
Details of the purchase by His Majesty's Woods, Forest and Lands ..... are available -
