Saturday, 15 June 2024

Trump the Favourite Dog of Hogarth. A recent discovery.

 


Trump the Favourite Dog of Hogarth.

A Recent Discovery in Wedgwood Basalt.

Post under construction.

Hogarth is known to have had at least three dogs, Trump, Crab, and Pugg.


Hogarth's dog 'Pugg' was reported missing on 5 December 1730 in The Craftsman newspaper when its owner advertised a description and offered a reward - 'a light colour'd Dutch DOG, with a black Muzzle'.

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The models of Trump have always in the past been described as Pugs but they are probably Dutch Mastiffs. 

The Pug in the 18th century had a similar flat muzzle to the modern Pug (see images of English Porcelain pugs below).


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Trump the "Pug" modelled by Louis Francois Roubiliac.

An original terracotta by Louis Francois Roubiliac remained with Hogarth's widow Jane until her death in 1790. It was sold by Mr Greenwood at The Golden Head, Leicester Square in the Hogarth auction sale of 24 April 1790.

Lot 57. Mr Hogarth by Roubiliac.

Lot 58. "A Cast of the favourite dog".

Sold in the same sale was the bust of Hogarth by Roubiliac bought by Mr S Ireland for 7 guineas and purchased afterwards by George Baker FRS, Physician to the King and President of the Royal College of Physicians died 1809) - it was after his death in the possession of his brother.

The bust was in the Collection of the Engraver Nathaniel Smith and sold at his posthumous sale by Mr Dodd of 101 St Martins Lane.


The bust reappears later at the James Bindley sale in 1819, Lot 238 bought by "Triphook"


The model of Trump appeared again at the Watson Taylor Sale at Erlestoke Park, Wiltshire, Lot 71. July 1832.

This original terra cotta of Trump is now lost, but the Wedgwood Trump is probably the closest to the original. The Chelsea Trumps are very fine but much detail is lost because of the application of a thick glaze.

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The Earliest Representation of the Roubiliac Model of Trump.

Samuel Ireland, the bust of Hogarth and the Model of Trump.


Below is the illustration of  Roubiliac's model of Trump from 1799.

Note the rectangular base.







           Image above from Graphic Illustrations of Hogarth, London, 1799. by Samuel Ireland.    

  

Ireland says  "It had been jocularly observed by him, that there was a close resemblance between his own countenance and that of his favorite [sic] dog, who was his faithful friend and companion for many years, and for whom he had conceived a greater share of attachment than is usually bestowed on these domestic animals"


Lettered with title and production detail, "Phillips Sct / from a bust by Roubilliac / Pub for S. Ireland May 1. 1799".

Size - Height: 237 millimetres Width: 165 millimetres trimmed.

Images above courtesy British Museum website.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Ee-4-136


For Samuel Ireland see -

 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=gri.ark:/13960/t3mw6c75j&seq=161&view=thumb

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Hogarth's Trump and JT Smith (1766 - 1833).

Smith was obviously very familiar with the model of Trump and frequently included him in his engravings.


Hogarth sitting to Roubiliac.

Pen and wash drawings

1817?

John Thomas Smith (1766 - 1833).

From 20 Original Drawings projected work (unpublished) Illustrating the Life of Hogarth by J. T. Smith 1817.

Yale Centre for British Art.

https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:12533

Sheet: 12 7/8 × 9 3/4 inches (32.7 × 24.8 cm), Image: 7 3/16 × 5 3/8 inches (18.3 × 13.7 cm)

Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Inscribed in graphite, verso, centre: "No 17 | Hogarth sitting to Roubiliac for | his Bust"

John Thomas Smith, was also known as Antiquity Smith, who we have already met several times in this blog, he was an English painter, engraver and antiquarian. 

He wrote a warts and all life of the sculptor Joseph Nollekens, Nollekens and his Times, pub. 1828, that was noted for its "malicious candour", and was a keeper of prints for the British Museum from 1815.


His father Nathaniel Smith (c1741 - 1800?) had been placed as an apprentice in the studio of Roubiliac on 7 August 1755, after the death of Roubiliac in 1762, he became an assistant to Joseph Wilton, by 1779 he was working for the sculptor Joseph Nollekens, but later became a very successful print seller.

He lived and worked at May's Building off St Martin's Lane. 


JT Smith had also worked for the sculptor Nollekens, but after a brief apprenticeship, he went on to study under the engraver and history painter John Keyse Sherwin from 1781- 4, before working as a drawing master and draughtsman for his longstanding patrons John Charles Crowle and Sir James Winter Lake.


Nathaniel Smith had owned the bust of Hogarth by Roubiliac and probably a model of Trump - the bust was sold by the auctioneer Dodd (1771 - 1850) of 101 St Martin's Lane - 26 April 1809 (see the image below).


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The unpublished Illustrated Hogarth.

JT Smith.

1817.



Note Trump at the feet of Hogarth.

In this drawing trump is facing right. 

For the complete set of drawings at Yale see -

https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2024/06/john-thomas-smith-illustrated-hogarth.html



This is one of twenty drawings in a portfolio measuring 13 3/16 × 10 3/16 inches (33.5 × 25.9 cm)

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Some more drawings from the same series at YCBA including the dog Trump.

Hogarth and Trump at Old Slaughters along with Joseph Highmore the Painter.





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Hogarth Drinking the First Glass of Wine with His Wife - Their Dogs Keeping Respectful Distances, 1817.

Hogarth's dog next to him on the chair.




Rembrandt looking down at the scene.

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For a Book for a Rainy Day by JT Smith pub. posthumously in 1845 see

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54693/pg54693-images.html

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The Hogarth Pug model used in an etching from Vagabondiana of 1817 by JT Smith.





Vagabondiana.

JT Smith.

The Collected Version of this Series was First Published in 1817.

Published JT Smith. 4 Chandos Street, Covent Garden.

For the 1874 Edition see -

Vagabondiana, or, Anecdotes of mendicant wanderers through the streets of London ; with portraits of the most remarkable drawn fro the life : Smith, John Thomas, 1766-1833 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

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For The Dissertation for an MA at the Courtauld Institute of Art 2016 by Fraser Short

(99+) An Analysis of J.T. Smith's Vagabondiana | Fraser Short - Academia.edu

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For Smiths Ancient Topography of London pub 1815 see

https://archive.org/details/b3045671x/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater


More on Smith to come in this blog in the near future.

https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2024/06/john-thomas-smith-illustrated-hogarth.html

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The Plaster Casts and Moulds of Trump sold at the Roubiliac Posthumous Sale.

May 1762.

The only copy of the Roubiliac sale catalogue so far discovered is that in the Finberg Collection at the British Museum.


Plaster casts of the dogs were sold among Roubiliac's effects, at the posthumous sale over four days at the Roubiliac studio in St Martin's Lane on 12 May 1762 and the following three days.

Third day 

Under the heading of Sundries in Plaister.

Lot 25. A laughing fawn, a saints head, a laughing boy and a pug dog.

Lot 34. Two dogs.

Fourth day.

Under the heading of Sundries in Plaister.

Lot 31. The academy figures, two plaister ornaments, 2 sketches of busts, a clay bracket and a pug dog.


Under the heading of MOULDS in Plaister.

Lot 59. A pug dog.

Given that both left and right handed versions of Trump exist it is not unreasonable to suggest that both versions were sold at the Roubiliac sale.


It is possible that two sizes of dogs were offered at this sale the originals for both versions of the Chelsea Trump and the Wedgwood dogs.


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Another Roubiliac Dog at Auction in 1805.


In a sale catalogue of Christie's on 29 March 1805 'of ... Vases, Marbles, etc collected by a Man of Fashion during a recent visit to Rome and Naples', also included 'original models in Terra Cotta, by the celebrated Roubiliac, &c, &c.'

Referring to models in terracotta by Roubiliac.

Lot 121. - described as ditto a small female figure and ditto of a dog.

Lot 22. the figures of  Painting and Sculpture were models for the parlour chimneypiece at Twickenham of the painter Thomas Hudson. According to JT Smith in Nollekens and his Times pub. 1828 these models were purchased by Nollekens at a sale by Christie's of the artists possessions 25th and  26th February 1785.

Presumably this is where Nathaniel Smith obtained his model of the dog Trump.

According to JT Smith in Nollekens... his father 'Nat' Smith bought lot 37, the model of Handel's figure at Vauxhall Gardens at this sale. 

Through Mr Belcher  - was this a pseudonym??




Lot 121, A small female figure and a dog?


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Josiah Wedgwood and the Black Basalt model of Hogarth's dog Trump.


Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) made versions in Black Basalt. He based these on a cast bought 10 February 1774 from the London plaster shop in the Strand of Richard Parker. - see Life of Josiah Wedgwood Vol II Eliza Meteyard pub 1866 - page 326. see -

https://archive.org/details/lifeofjosiahwedg00mete/page/326/mode/1up?q=Parker&view=theate

Parker was almost certainly in possession of the piece mould purchased at the posthumous Roubiliac sale of May 1762.

For Parker and his partner and successor Charles Harris at the Alfred's Head see my blog post. -

https://english18thcenturyportraitsculpture.blogspot.com/2016/01/charles-harris-catalogue.html



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The Roubiliac Terracotta Bust of Hogarth now in the NPG.

and the "companion" terracotta model of his pug dog Trump.


https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/explore/by-publication/kerslake/early-georgian-portraits-catalogue-hogarth

The terra cotta bust is now in the NPG Collections: it was purchased, 1861, from W. Baker of 37 Southampton Row, (originally) from the collection of the sitter. 


Nichols, in 1781, refers to it when seen at the Hogarth house in Chiswick: 'His widow has an excellent bust of him by Roubilliac, a strong resemblance', 

The Bust was was lot 57 ‘. . . Mr. Hogarth, by Roubiliac' in the posthumous sale of Mrs Hogarth's goods (she died 1789) from the Golden Head in Leicester Fields, Greenwood's, 24 April 1790.  Lot 58, also a bust 'terra coto', described as 'A ditto of the favourite dog, and cast of Mr. Hogarth's hand', was bought by Mr Bindley of the Stamp Office. 


The Terracotta Model of Trump.


Known through the Chelsea porcelain version (Victoria and Albert Museum), it was last heard of in the Watson Taylor sale at Erlestoke Park, Wiltshire, 25 July (15th day) 1832, lot 71. The purchaser of lot 57 is given in some copies of the catalogue as 'Finlay', possibly a misreading or the name of an intermediary. 

The accepted purchaser, as noted in the catalogue owned in 1944 by Martin B. Asscher, was 'Dr. Hunter', presumably the surgeon John Hunter, a near neighbour of the Hogarth’s at 28 Leicester Square since 1783.

In the posthumous sale of Mrs Hogarth of his property, Christie's, 29 January 1794, it was presumably lot 62 (3rd day), a terracotta bust of 'Mr. Hogarth', bought by Samuel Ireland who had it engraved for the Graphic Illustrations of Hogarth. 

The bust passed into the hands of Nathaniel Smith father of JT Smith (see illustration of the catalogue entry below) and was sold at his sale (see the Catalogue below) 26 April 1809.

This catalogue seems to have been missed by recent historians.


After the Nathaniel Smith sale in 1809 the bust passed into the possession of George Baker (1747 - 1811) Lace man  and collector of 2 St Paul's Churchyard. B After his death it was inherited by his brother Richard.

The bust was in turn inherited by his great-nephew Frederick Herbert Hemming, the sale of Baker's collection 16 June 1825. The bust next passed to the latter's sister Frances Hemming of St John's Wood who sold it, 4 February 1861, to W. Baker.


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Wedgwood Basalt Wares.

The material is a high fired stoneware, which Wedgwood describes in a letter to Bentley as being ‘fired ‘till they become almost glass.’ While extremely popular, he did have to concede that it was unusually expensive, saying that not ‘one in 6 [was] good’.

 

He also had problems with the finish of his black basalts, saying ‘it is impossible to make the surface of the black vases always alike’, but produced a solution achieved by burnishing the pieces. He is also said to have polished his wares and is known to have used a variety of finishes to achieve different effects.


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The Recently Discovered Wedgwood Basalt Model of Hogarth's Pug Trump.

Currently in a private collection.

This version facing left.

Not marked.

Size - Width:11 inches x 6.25 inches x 5.75 inches tall.


By shear coincidence another Wedgwood Basalt Trump, the pair to the model below will be appearing at Christie's London this Autumn - to be announced  (2024) (see the photographs below).
















By shear coincidence another Wedgwood Basalt Trump, the pair to the model below will be appearing at Christie's London this Autumn (2024) (see the photographs below).



                                                               .................................

                                
                              The Christie's /Stanley F. Goldfein Collection Wedgwood Basalt Model
                                                          of Trump Facing Right. 

         This is the pair to the recently discovered Trump which faces left.

        I am very grateful to Matilda Burn of Christie's for providing me with these images.

This piece has appeared at Christies previously and is illustrated in figure 670 in Wedgwood by Robin Reilly, pub 1989.


A large example facing right was auctioned May 1973, this same piece was again auctioned in February 1986.





A photograph of it appears in the Dictionary of Wedgwood, by Robin Reilly and George Savage, pub Antique Collectors Club, 1980.  page 343 illustrated - The dog was sold by Christie's in 1973.
(It is easily identifiable by the chips on the right hand side of the base). See Christies photograph below

The Dictionary also mentions the smaller version (illustrated later below).















These photographs from the Christie's online sale.


























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The Stanley f. Goldfein Wedgwood Basalt Trump at Christie's 1986..

From the Dictionary of Wedgwood by Robin Reilly and George Savage pub. Antique Collectors Club. 1980.





A rather poor lo res image below of the Christie's Catalogue of February 1986.
but the chips on the front right hand side are plainly visible.








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The Origins of The Wedgwood and Bentley Model of Trump.

Invoice/bill from Theodore Parker to Mess. Wedgwood.

Dated 18 December 1769.

Including 3 Doggs?

This perhaps refers to the smaller dog as manufactured by the Chelsea pottery and later in Basalt by Wedgwood.





.

Supplied to Wedgwood 3 statues Flora, Ceres and Spencer and an openwork bracket on 31 September 1769 for £1 19shillings.

Supplied to Messrs Wedgwood 7 statues and 3 doggs 7th October 1769, Total £3. 3s


I am very grateful to Lucy Lead of the Wedgwood archives for supplying this image.


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Wedgwood and Bentley purchased a plaster version of Trump from Richard Parker (fl. 1768 - 84) of the Strand on 10 February 1774.

Invoice below -

Busts - Zingara, Vestal at 16 shillings - £2 12s.

Pug Dog at 10s 6d.

See catalogue entry (above) of Charles Harris at the Alfred's Head, 162 the Strand of 1777 (formerly Parker and Harris).

Note that various moulds and bas reliefs from Joseph Wilton (1722 - 1803)



I am very grateful to Lucy Lead of the Wedgwood archives for supplying this image.


On the bill is the printed heading.

‘Scagliola;/or Plaster casts of Elegant subjects/ proper to introduce into the decoration of rooms, staircases, halls etc/ Richard Parker/ Opposite the new church in the Strand/ having obtained from Joseph Wilton Esq. statuary to his majesty,/ various moulds of bas reliefs and bustos, made upon his original models / has the honour to acquaint the nobility and gentry, that they may be accommodated with casts at the shortest notice, Sundry samples of which with/ their prices may be seen at the above RICHARD PARKER’S / 

N.B. These original casts can be had at no other place; and although it may happen/ that some figure makers may clandestinely make moulds of any of those casts, they can / produce at best but an impression void of every original touch’.

The reference to the various moulds .... Joseph Wilton is instructive. This might have include moulds etc purchased at the posthumous Roubiliac sale at St Martin's Lane in May of 1762.

Harris was still trading at the Strand address in 1794



Richard Parker specialized in making casts. There was a set of busts by him at Ashburnham Place, Sussex, - Locke, Milton, Congreve, Prior, See Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors .Roscoe. 2009) Parker is mentioned as Statuary of The Strand, bankrupt in The Gentleman’s Magazine and The Town and Country Magazine in October, 1776.

 Parker was employed by Wedgwood, their archives contain a letter from their London agent William Cox which states “Mr Parker has cast the medallions off in the best manner him and I could well contrive. I should be glad of your notes respecting the propriety or Deserts of the Performance. (Wedgwood/ParkerE5/30873 undated)

 

 

 

 Theodore Parker, father of Richard supplied Wedgwood in 1769 with a figure of Shakespeare.



                                        The Trade Card of Messrs Parker and  Harris.



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In 1785 in Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth: with a catalogue of his works by John Nichols ... - Page 20 mentions, very much in passing a catalogue of the Statues, Bustos, etc of Richard Parker Statuary in the Strand is Hogarth’s Pug Dog. 








The Extract from the Catalogue of Charles Harris of the Strand.


The Catalogue in French is dated 1777.



Interestingly Hogarth's favourite dog here is described as a Dutch dog (de race Hollandaise) and not as a pug.

I believe that it refers to the dogs known as a sort of pug described as Dutch mastiffs.

In the undated English version in the National Arts Library at the V and A it is described as "Hogarth's Pug Dog" 10s 6d. 

.




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For the purchase of a plaster "pug dog" from Richard Parker see The Life of Josiah Wedgwood from his Private Correspondence ......Eliza Meteyard, 1866, Vol II Page 326. Extract below.







https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-AkqAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true


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The Wedgwood Catalogue of 1774.  

The Second Edition. (the first Edition was published in 1773).

Page 63, no. 28 - A Pug Dog (nb. singular).

https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_a-catalogue-of-cameos-i_wedgwood-and-bentley_1774/page/n65/mode/2up

I am extremely grateful to Lucy Lead of the V and A Wedgwood Collection for providing me with this lead and the link to the online Second Edition Wedgwood Catalogue of 1774.


Whilst not conclusive this extract suggests that the smaller of the Basalt Trumps was one of the "dogges" provided by Theodore Parker 31 September 1769 (see the image of the Theo. Parker Invoice above).


The cast of the larger dog provided by Richard Parker 10 February 1774 is unlikely to be that mentioned in this catalogue given the length of time to prepare the mould for casting and firing and the time taken to prepare the catalogue for printing.


The lack of the dogs in the 1779 Catalogue but inclusion the pair in the catalogue of 1787







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The first Edition - 1773 of the Wedgwood Catalogue is available on line at

https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_a-catalogue-of-cameos-i_wedgwood-and-bentley_1773/page/n51/mode/2up

no mention of Pug Dogs.

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There is no mention of Pugs or Dogs in the  Wedgwood and Bentley Catalogue of 1779.

This catalogue is available on line to members of The Wellcome Library but the later 1787 catalogue now includes 2 pug dogs (extract below).




The 1787 Wedgwood Catalogue.

No 22 Two Pug Dogs.

https://library.si.edu/digital-library/book/catalogofcameosi00wedg








Note 22. Two pug dogs.

This entry suggests to me that they were made as a pair as were the Chelsea pugs.



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The Chelsea Roubiliac Models of Hogarth's Dog Trumps

It should be noted that to produce such large scale models was a considerable technical achievement.

For more on Roubiliac, Sprimont and the Chelsea bust of the Laughing Child see -

https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2015_06_03_archive.html


The Victoria and Albert Museum Chelsea Trump.


Soft Paste Porcelain figure of Hogarth's dog 'Trump', Chelsea Porcelain factory, 1747-1750.

Width: 26.5cm approx. height: 13.2cm.

Sold Christie's London, Lot 2, 24 October 1966.

Bought by Winifred Williams on behalf of the Victoria and Albert Museum.




https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77828/hogarths-dog-trump-figure-roubiliac-louis-francois/hogarths-dog-trump-figure-roubiliac-louis-fran%C3%A7ois/





They say "The Chelsea factory perhaps also based its version on a "commercially available plaster" from Roubiliac who produced many plaster casts of his sculptures" - given the date of c.1747 I think that this is unlikely unless Roubiliac produced plaster version for sale - He is known to have produced plaster busts from early in his career, eg Georg Frederick Handel for the Harris's in 1741, see my post

https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2014/01/asummary-of-researches-into-bust-of.html


The manager of the Chelsea porcelain factory, the silversmith  Nicholas Sprimont (1716- Jun 1771), was a friend of both Hogarth and Roubiliac.

Sprimont was the godfather of Sophie Roubiliac who was born 25 August 1744 and baptised 23 Sept 1744 at the Huguenot Church in Spring Gardens by M Isac Lesturgeon. It should be noted that Matthew Maty was also a parishioner.

Nicholas Sprimont was a Huguenot born in Liege where he was baptised on 23 January 1716. After serving an apprenticeship as a silversmith, he emigrated to London registering his mark with the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths on 25 January 1742/3. 

He set up the Chelsea Porcelain Factory in around 1743 / 4, initially in partnership with the jeweller Charles Gouyn until about 1748 and then took full control until ill health forced Sprimont to sell the factory in 1769.


"Sprimont is a rare instance of an English porcelain entrepreneur with design skills. A visitor to England around 1750 commented that 'an able French artist' supplied 'or directs the models' of everything made at Chelsea. 

According to his widow, Sprimont had 'by his superior skill and taste in the arts of drawing and modelling and painting instructed and perfected several apprentices, workmen and servants'


The factory was at the corner of Lawrence Street and Justice Walk, and part of the works was in Cheyne Row West, where large quantities of broken figures and bases were found during excavations in 1843.  The factory produced ceramics to a very high standard, and the V and A's collection includes many fine examples.



In 18th century English porcelain figures, 1745–1795. Peter Bradshaw (1981); many pieces have been attributed to Roubiliac; see An illustrated catalogue of fifty-eight pieces of fine Chelsea porcelain many modelled by Louis François Roubiliac (circa 1755–1760) in the collection of Henry Edwards Huntington at San Marino, California. 1925. but only Hogarth's pug "Trump" is securely known to be by Roubiliac (J. V. G. Mallet, "Hogarth's pug in porcelain", Victoria & Albert Bulletin (1967:45).

For an overview see - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_porcelain_factory

For Sprimont's works in the Royal Collection see -

https://www.rct.uk/collection/people/nicholas-sprimont-1716-71

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Another Early Chelsea piece linked with Roubiliac.




https://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2015_06_03_archive.html


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The Christie's Pair of Chelsea Soft Paste Porcelain Pugs.

TWO CHELSEA MODELS OF HOGARTH'S DOG 'TRUMP'

CIRCA 1747-50, AFTER THE MODEL BY LOUIS-FRANÇOIS ROUBILIAC.

Lot 7. 31 October 1996. Christie's New York

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1098035

No illustrations available on the website.





Sold Price realised USD 81,700.

31 Oct 1996.

10 5/8in. (27cm.) wide.

Lot Essay -

The present lot is the only known pair to be offered at auction. While mirror images have been found over the last half century, this find should reinforce the theory that this model and its opposing example were modelled by Chelsea as a pair.

 

There are only three other single models known. The first example was sold by Christie's London, October 24, 1966, lot 2 and was acquired by Winifred Williams on behalf of the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

The second example was from the Rous Lench Collection, sold at Sotheby's London, July 1, 1986, lot 198 and is the only known coloured model. 

(This is probably the version currently in the Stanley F. Goldfien collection which is due to appear at a Christies Auction in the Autumn - October of 2024 - my italics).


The third is most probably the example from the collection of Mr. Lionel Geneen, mentioned in J.V.G. Mallet's article in Apollo, 1969, vol. 90, no. 90, pp. 100-111, titled 'Rococo English Porcelain: a study in style, and later offered anonymously at Sotheby's London, November 19, 1991, lot 208.

(This is the version now at Colonial Williamsburg Museum - my italics).


A clear link has been established between William Hogarth and a fairly tight circle of artists which was centred around the St. Martin's Lane Academy and Old Slaughter's Coffee House. Louis François Roubiliac, a member of this group, immortalized Hogarth's favorite pug, Trump, in a now lost terra-cotta model. This model and the well-known (terracotta - National Portrait Gallery) bust of Hogarth can be identified by the first plate found in Samuel Ireland's, Graphic Illustrations of Hogarth, published May 1, 1799. The same model was also listed in the effects of Hogarth's widow in 1789. In addition, Nicholas Sprimont, the director of the Chelsea factory, kept his premises on Compton Street around the corner. A fellow emigré, Sprimont also stood as Godfather to Roubiliac's daughter, Sophie.

 

For a comprehensive discussion of these models see J.V.G. Mallet's article in the Victoria and Albert Museum Bulletin, April 1967, vol. III, no. 2, titled 'Hogarth's pug in porcelain', pp. 45 - 54.

(see below)


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The Colonial Williamsburg Chelsea Soft Paste Porcelain Model of Trump.

OH: 5 1/8in (13cm); L: 11 5/8in. (29.5cm); W: 6in. (15.2cm).

Note that it faces in the opposite direction to the V and A version.

Thus making it one of a pair.

The Museum acquired the figure at the 19 November 1991, offered in the British Ceramics and Glass sale at Sotheby's, London. 

It was lot number 208 in that sale.

I am very grateful to Angelica Kuettner curator of Ceramics at Williamsburg for her assistance in  adding information about the Williamsburg example.

https://emuseum.history.org/objects/704/trump-hogarths-dog


They say - 

"The technical difficulties of firing such a large ceramic mass, combined with the endearing expression of the dog's face, make this figure a master piece of the potter's art".

This can be seen in the number of firing cracks obvious from the photographs .

"Only three examples of Trump are known to survive today (1993). Of the other two, one is considered the highlight of the Victoria and Albert Museum's porcelain collections (illustrated here above - that version faces in the opposite direction)) and the other is still in private hands. 

They were not aware of the Christies New York pair when the Museum catalogue entry was written

With its direct associations to Roubilliac, Sprimont, and William Hogarth, this object ranks high among the significant porcelain works in English ceramic history. (From CWF MUSEUM musings, Vol. II, no. l, March 1993, by Robert R. Hunter, Jr. Assistant Curator, Ceramics.)


 

This is the example from the collection of Mr. Lionel Geneen, mentioned in J.V.G. Mallet's article in Apollo, 1969, vol 90, no. 90, pp. 100-111, titled 'Rococo English Porcelain: a study in style, and later offered anonymously at Sotheby's London, November 19, 1991, lot 208.















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Another Chelsea Soft Paste Porcelain model of Hogarth’s dog ‘Trump’ circa 1747.

This is the only known coloured version.

At Christie's Forthcoming Sale - Autumn / October 2024.

The Stanley F. Goldfein Collection.

No size given.

https://www.christies.com/en/events/the-stanley-goldfein-collection


Stanley F. Goldfein was a member of The Wedgwood Society of New York. He was instrumental in seeing that The Buten Collection of Wedgwood was placed with The Birmingham Museum of Art, joining the Beeson Collection to make the museum’s holdings in that category one of the best in the world. 

Having given pieces to museums during his lifetime, it was his wish that the bulk of his collection be sold on the open market, allowing a new generation of collectors to discover the same joy he found in owning and learning about these extraordinary works.

Highlights from the collection which will be offered by Christie’s London in the Autumn of 2024 include a Chelsea Porcelain model of Hogarth’s dog ‘Trump’, circa 1745-1747, after the model by L.F. Roubiliac (estimate: £30,000-50,000), a Chelsea Porcelain model of an owl, circa 1745-1749 (estimate: £20,000-30,000), and a Chelsea Porcelain bust of a young boy, circa 1750 (estimate: £15,000-20,000). 

Further details will be available closer to the sale.


 This example is certainly that from the famous Rous Lench / TG Burns Collection, sold at Sotheby's London, July 1, 1986, lot 198 and is so far the only known coloured model.







....................


The two images below very kindly provided by Matilda Burn of Christie's.

There is a crack at the front which was disguised by the flower.

This was very probably a "second", the flowers could have been added later.








Note the Rous Lench label.

Pronounced firing crack from the front edge almost to the back of the 


.........................


The Smaller Models of Trump.

The Chorley's Auction / TG Burns / Rous Lench Chelsea model, the small Wedgwood basalt and the Hogarth House Marble and their relationship.


The Chorley's Auction / TG Burns / Rous Lench small Chelsea model of Trump.

Sold 21 Sept 2021.

Catalogued as Chelsea. (JVC Mallet suggests circa 1745 - 47).

From the TG Burns Rous Lench Collection.

Width 11 cms - 


If the date suggested by Mallet is correct it follows that  it was modelled prior to the larger Chelsea models of Trump.

I can find no other versions of this porcelain dog.


 Malcolm Baker, in his paper to the English Ceramic Circle (Baker 1997), drew attention to a letter (in the William Salt Library in Stafford) written by Sir Theophilus Biddolph on 7 May 1745 (possibly to a relative John Byrche) which discussed the Bishop Hough monument in Worcester Cathedral at some length. An important feature of the commission was a bas relief panel to be incorporated within the monument. Biddolph had visited Roubiliac's workshop to check on progress and in his letter he mentions 'The Basso Relievo is to be in Chelsea China'.

.................................


This little version is perhaps related to the small "Wedgwood" model pictured below and the marble version also pictured below.


They say "possibly the only coloured version of an existing handful of this smaller model?

Where are the others??

Once a companion to the lauded larger 'Trump' version (also the only coloured version) which was offered from the collection in the Sotheby's sale of 1986./Literature: 

For a comprehensive discussion of these models see J.V.G. Mallet's article in the Victoria and Albert Museum Bulletin, April 1967, vol. III, no. 2, titled 'Hogarth's pug in porcelain', pp. 45 - 54/ (see blow)

Provenance: Rous Lench Collection and by descent to the current owner"




Image Courtesy Dog News.


https://dognews.com/mixed-bag-dog-auctions-from-maud-earl-labrador-retrievers-to-cartier-dachshund.


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The Small "Wedgwood" Trump.

c. 1775/80.

Extract from Wedgwood by Robin Reilley, pub 1989.

Plate 670b.

Called a Pug Dog Height 10.5 cms. 

unmarked. (early Wedgwood was not marked).

In the Dictionary of Wedgwood , Antique Collectors Club, pub. 1980 page 343 suggested as Wedgwood. described as exceedingly rare

Sold  Sotheby's Autumn 1973.

Reilly dismisses it as an inferior version but if the little coloured version below is a Chelsea model then I can see no reason why this little dog might not also be by Wedgwood.

It lacks the fine detail of the larger Wedgwood Models but the modelling of the eyes are very similar.





Image above from Wedgwood by Robin Reilly. pub 1989.

for what I believe is the marble original see below.

........................


Extracts below from The Wedgwood Handbook: A Manual for Collectors. Treating of the Marks By Eliza Meteyard. Pub 1875.



The 1781 Christie's Wedgwood Sale.







276. Two Pug Dogs from Hogarth.









535. A Pair of Large Grecian shinxes, a pair of  pug dogs, from a favourite dog of Hogarth's.

536. A suite of five chimney ornaments: a chased tripod,  a pair of pug dogs etc....




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The Hogarth House Marble Sculpture of Trump.

Slightly larger in size than the Wedgwood Basalt Pug illustrated in Wedgwood by Reilley and the 1745/47 Rous Lench Chelsea small coloured porcelain pug.


It is my current belief that this little marble came from the St Martin's Lane Studio of Louis Francois Roubiliac. The Rous Lench / Chorleys Chelsea Porcelain Trump was taken from this version as was the little Wedgwood Basalt version.


Dimensions.

H 7.5 x W 14 x D 10 cm;

Plinth: H 2.5 x W 16.5 x D 12.5 cm.


This is a much smaller version of the Roubiliac models of Trump reproduced in Chelsea Porcelain  and Wedgwood Basalt. 

This version in Marble is now on view in the Hogarth House Museum at Chiswick, West London.

Images here from the art uk website. it suggests late 18th century but I see no reason to believe that it isn't earlier.

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/trump-259595

Previously I believe on loan to the Foundling Museum.

Formerly in the Collection of the author Richard Adams (Watership Down).

































In the absence of any provenance but given the obvious quality of its modelling and close resemblance to the Chorley's/ Rous Lench 1745 Chelsea model then I believe it could quite possibly be a version from the Roubiliac workshop.

....................................


Two Mysterious Stoneware Trumps.

11.9 and 12cm wide

Sold by Bonham's 29 September 2020.


Two London stoneware models of the pug dog 'Trump', dated 1815 and 1816.

by William Murray after the lost terracotta by Roubiliac, Hogarth's famous dog modelled recumbent upon an octagonal base, moulded and finished by hand with undercutting and incised decoration, 11.9 and 12cm wide, one signed 'W Murray London Nov 9th 1815', the other impressed 'WILLIAM MURRAY 1816 LONDON'.


The identity of  William Murray has not been established - I can as yet find no other mention of him and his wares - possible related to the Murrays potters of Glasgow.












....................................

J.V.G. Mallet's article in the Victoria and Albert Museum Bulletin, April 1967, vol. III, no. 2, titled 'Hogarth's pug in porcelain', pp. 45 - 54/




















































..............................................................


Extract from Proceedings of the Wedgwood Society No. 15, 1995.
Hogarth's Trump a Wedgwood Pug Dog by L. Richard Smith.


Rather than transcribe the relevant passages in this article it was easier to post the entire piece.

Whilst  it does not add more about the Chelsea Trumps there are several further interesting facts noted here regarding the Wedgwood Dogs.


The first mention after the 1780's catalogue was in an auction in 1873?

A large example facing right was auctioned May 1973, this same piece was again auctioned in February 1986.

(It also appears in the Dictionary of Wedgwood, by Robin Reilly and George Savage, pub Antique Collectors Club, 1980.  page 343 illustrated - The dog was sold by Christie's in 1973.
It is easily identifiable by the chips on the right hand side of the base, my italics).

A second large example again facing right was auctioned in May 1977.

The small basalt Trump appears at auction in October 1979.

(It first appeared at a Sotheby's sale in Autumn 1973 - see Wedgwood by Robin Reilley, pub 1989 - my Italics).

In this article Smith unfortunately does not provide us with the names of the auction houses in the sale of 1873 or the later 20th century sales..


"However Working Mould for the pair of large size Trump in both right facing and left facing versions still survive" in the mould chambers at Barlaston"!








































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Of Tangential Interest

Roubiliac and Chelsea Porcelain.

The V and A Terracotta of the Argyle Monument in Westminster Abbey.

25.7 cm high, 16.2 cm wide

From the Website of E &H Manners.

Kensington Church Street, London.





























https://www.rare-ceramics.com/past-sales/a-chelsea-group-of-britannia/

...........................

Hogarth and Trump.

The Engraved Portraits.

Hogarth was not fond of the poet Churchill.










Designed and Engraved by Hogarth.

Pub. 1763.

British Museum.
..........................


The Tate Gallery Hogarth Self Portrait.





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Self Portrait. with Dog.

Pub. 1749.


Image courtesy British Museum.


............................


For Good Measure here illustrated is Roubiliac's bust of Hogarth.

c. 1741.

Presumably the bust described by Vertue and seen between 2 June and October 1741: ‘Mr. Rubbilac Sculptor of Marble—besides several works in Marble—moddels in Clay. had Modelld from the Life several Busts or portraits extreamly like .. . Mr. Hogarth very like'.


https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw03177/William-Hogarth




.......................


Clipping from the World - 13 March 1790.

The Greenwood sale at the Golden Head. after the death of Mrs Hogarth.




.....................


The Nathaniel Smith Sale of  26 April 1809.

Lot 125, The bust of Hogarth.

Nathaniel Smith was a former assistant to Roubiliac.

No obvious sign of the pug here!

This sale seems to have been missed by most writers and historians.









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.

A couple of English mid 18th Century Porcelain Pugs for Comparison.

A Porcelain Pug (not a Dutch Dog)!

The short upright tail and squashed muzzle are definitely similar to the modern day Pug.

Bow Porcelain.

Circa 1752.

8.8 cm high, 14.4 cm across.

https://www.rare-ceramics.com/wp-content/uploads/Publications/Early_English_White_Sculpture_Porcelain.pdf

References:

For the pendant figure see: Albert Amor Ltd, Catalogue, ‘Rarities from The John Hewett Collection of Early 18th Century English Porcelain’, 15 May, 1997, no. 5.







......................

The Pendant to the Dog above.

Pug Bow Porcelain.

Height: 8.6cm. Length: 13cm





......................................

Bow Porcelain Pug.

c.1758. 

8.3 cms.

Lot 3 23 October 2019,  Sotheby's New York.

Provenance.

......................

Not to labour the point!

Another Bow Porcelain Pug.

Height: 6.9cm,  Length: 6.9cm

Victoria and Albert Museum.





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A Derby Soft Paste Porcelain Pug.

Victoria and Albert Museum.

Height 8.3 cms.

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O165884/pug-dog-figure-william-duesbury/






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The Strode Family with Trump type Dog.

c. 1738.



William Strode, was a wealthy London businessman, next to him is his tutor Dr Arthur Smyth, later Archbishop of Dublin. Also depicted is his wife Lady Anne Cecil, and his relative Col. Strode. 

On the floor is a tea caddy. Strode’s family made its money through trading shares in the South Sea Company.

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/hogarth-the-strode-family-n01153


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More of Tangential Interest.

Pug's reply to Parson Bruin. Or a polemical conference occasioned by an Epistle to William Hogarth, Esq; by C. Churchill

1763.

Publisher: Printed for J. Cooke, at Shakespear's-Head, in Pater-Noster-Row (London).












































................................................

Nicholas Sprimont with his wife Anne nee Protin and his sister in law Susannah Protin.

with six Chelsea Gold Anchor period vases.

Victoria and Albert Museum





https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1650711/painting-of-nicholas-sprimont-ann-portrait/


https://www.persee.fr/doc/camar_0776-1317_1993_num_24_1_1111.






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