Wednesday 10 January 2024

Two Interiors by Louis Phillipe Boitard



Two Exquisitely Detailed Drawings perhaps by Louis - Phillipe Boitard (fl. 1733 - 67).

The Perruquirs and the Merchant Taylors.

Although the Merchant Taylors drawing seems to have been signed by Hubert Gravelot. 



Louis-Phillipe Boitard 

He was first noted by George Vertue in 1742: ‘Boitard engraver, lately come from Paris—some merit—good stock of assurance ’ (Vertue, Note books), although it seems that he had been in London from at least 1733.

Boitard may have spent some time again in France between 1741 and 1743.

His father Francois (c. 1667 - 1719) was born in Toulouse and pupil of La Fage (1656-1690); to London for a few years c.1709, died after 1717; father of Louis Philippe. Mariette calls him 'homme inquiet et debauche', notorious for a set of postures? Returned to Holland after London and died in The Hague.

May have acted as agent to purchase pictures for Dr. Meade's collection.

Signature of Boitard inv. on frontispieces in earliest illustrated edition of Beaumont and Fletcher's Plays, possible early illustrator of Shakespeare? (see H.A. Hammelman article in Country Life, September 24th, 1959).

I can not currently find any address for him 



At the Perruquiers.

This sheet is a preparatory drawing for an (unpublished) engraving.

The Perruquier was also a Hairdresser and Barber.

Fascinating depiction of a Georgian shop interior - with an early illustration of a dated lead water cistern of 1733, initialed HWM  in situ over a lead lined sink (containing a barbers shaving bowl).









Bonhams. London.  Lot 7, 23 Sept 2008.

 Pen and ink and wash.

22.5 x 31cm (8 7/8 x 12 3/16in).

Prepared for engraving. Although no engraving is known - Perhaps one of a series certainly a pair to the drawing below.


Robert Campbell's The London Tradesman of 1747, was intended to guide potential apprentices and employees. Campbell states that the peruke maker 'has his fashions from Paris, like all other tradesmen, and the nearer he can approach to the patterns of that fickle trade, the better chance he has to succeed with his English customers.'

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The Merchant Taylors



The sheet is a preparatory drawing for an engraving by George Bickham entitled 'The Merchant Taylors', published 29 June 1749.

Bickham was working at Mays Buildings, a court on the East side of St Martin's Lane.

Image from the Royal Collection.

https://www.rct.uk/collection/913279/a-tailors-shop

What appears to have been missed is the signature of Hubert Gravelot in the bottom left corner of this drawing .



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The Merchant Taylors.

Engraved and Published by George Bickham (1706 - 71) at May's Buildings (off St Martin's Lane).

1749.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_G-12-111


info below from BM website

George Bickham was at the Blackmoor's Head over against Surrey Street in the Strand (c.1740-1).

May's Buildings, Covent Garden by 1741.

In an advertisement in the Daily Post, 13 April 1741, Bickham gives both the above addresses.


Printmaker and publisher; son of George Bickham the Elder  a prolific publisher of a very wide range of prints; first major publication, a series of engraved song sheets entitled 'The Musical Entertainer' (1737). 

Apprentices: William Austin (1747), and his nephew Thomas Butcher (1759). 

Some prints published by Bickham seem also to have been engraved/etched by him although lettered with pseudonyms. 

Announced his retirement on 25 April 1767 (Public Advertiser) stating that his business would be continued by Thomas Butcher (q.v.). Died in Richmond, Surrey, on 21 June 1771, leaving his property to his widow, Elizabeth; sale of his copper plates and rolling press advertised in the Public Advertiser, 9 January 1772.

Collaborated with his father, and many of their prints have not been properly identified; when there is any doubt, prints have been placed under George Bickham the Younger.

A broadside dated 1745 (1898,0520.166) describes Bickham's trade: 'Where all Sorts of Picture-Work, as well as Writing and Shopkeeper's Bills, are exectued in a neat Manner, and at the most reasonaable Rates. Authors and Booksellers may have Frontispieces and Cuts, for Books, design'd, drawn, and engraved in the best Taste, and printed in the cleanest Manner, to produce a beautiful Impression, at the lowest Prices: As also Pictures neatly framed and glazed: Where all Gentlemen, Merchants, City and Country Shopkeepers, and Chapmen, may be furnished at the best Hand.'






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The Strand Riots - Ist July 1749.

Boitard.

Published by Robert Sayer of Fleet Street




The rioting that destroyed a bawdy house on the Strand. Lasting from July 1st through July 3rd, the London neighborhood was the site of continuous violence. It began when a sailor was robbed by a prostitute.

Her pimp, assaulted the sailor who returned with a group of his shipmates that night.

Boitard depicts "The Sailor's Revenge" on that establishment in this print.

 

The Strand Riot of 1749 is remembered for the wig maker Bosavaren Penlez who was executed for his role. Penlez was caught looting the “tavern”or Bawdy House of Peter Wood on the third night of the riots and became a scapegoat.

Henry Fielding defended the court's sentence, though many were appalled by it. Politics played a significant role in the city's response to the riot, and the failure to indict any sailors may be a reflection of that.

see The Newgate Calendar excerpt -










Public Houses and Pawnbrokers in and Around St Martin's Lane.



 A Preliminary List of the St Martin's Lane Area Public Houses in the Early 18th Century.


From - https://www.academia.edu/32269006/On_Cribby_Islands_proof

Interesting website referring to the Bermudas and Porridge Island the area East of the South end of St Martin's Lane and North of the West end of the Strand.


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Angel & Crown, 58 St Martin’s Lane. 1727.

Bear & Staff, 11 Bear St. 1714.

Black Boy & Apple Tree, 49 St Martin’s Lane. 1737.

Black Boy & Harrow, 54. St Martin’s Lane 1737.

Black Horse, 10, later 11, Bedfordbury, c.1721.

Chandos, 29 St Martin’s Lane, c.1710.

Coach & Horses, 90 St Martin’s Lane 1725.

Cock & Bottle, 21 Bedfordbury 1736.

Golden Fleece, Sheltons Court, Bedfordbury. c.1738.

Goldsmith’s Arms, 42 Bedfordbury. 1745.

Green Man, 20 New Street c.1743.

Green Man & French Horn, 54 St Martin’s Lane 1744.

Half Moon & Candles, 36 Bedfordbury.

c.1704Horse & Groom, 31 Bedfordbury 1739.

King of Prussia’s Head, 23 Bedfordbury 1740.

Lemon Tree, 4 Bedfordbury c.1737.

Monmouth, 17 Hemming’s Row/42 Castle Stc.1739.

Pineapple, Castle St. 1733.

Porcupine, 40 Charing Cross Rd c.1730.

Red Lyon, Hop Gardens. 1735.

Robin Hood, 45 Castle St. 1732.

Star & Garter, 33 St Martin’s Lane c.1737.

Sutherland Arms, 7 Great Mays Buildings 1738.

Swan, 14 New Row 1733

Thistle & Crown, 39 St Martin’s Lane .1735.

White Lyon, 13 Hemmings Row. 1737.

Pubs attested in the first half of the 18th century in the area covered by the Strand Bermudas. Data taken from Garrod and Garrod (2002: 7)


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Some Public Houses linked with Freemasonry.


Red Lion, Tottenham Court Road, London, 1723.

Goat, at the foot of the Haymarket, London ,  1730.

Bedford Court Coffee House, Bedford Court, Covent Garden, London.   1734.

Private Room, Red Lion Street, Holborn, London,  1735.

Turk's Head, Fleet Street, London,    1736.

Cross Keys, corner of St. Martin's Lane, London,    1736.

Le Guerre Tavern, St. Martin's Lane, London,             1738.

St. Martin's, St. Martin's Lane, London,         1738.

Turk's Head, Temple Bar, London,     1738.

Bedford Arms, Covent Garden, London,       1739.


https://www.dhi.ac.uk/lane/record.php?ID=43


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Pawnbrokers 


Lancaster Court, between Stand and St Martin in the Fields Church. The Rainbow Coffee House, etc.

 


Lancaster Court. Strand.

Some notes -

Post under construction.

Lancaster Court was built on the site of the King's Head.

The whole area south of St Martin in the Fields Church was cleared to make way for the improvements including Trafalgar Square to the west end of the Strand in 1830. 



Although published in 1755 this map is based on an earlier map.

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The Courts running North from Charing Cross and the West End of the Strand and east from the lower end of St Martin's Lane..

35, Hunts Court. Off St Martins Lane.

36,Woodstock Court. Off Charing Cross

37, The Checker Inn. Off Charing Cross

38, Starr Inn.

39. Kings Head Inn (later Lancaster Court).

40 St Martin's Court.

41, Hewets Court.

42, Church Lane.

43, Robin Hood Court.

44, New Round Court.

45, Round Court.






Map from Stow's Survey of 1755.

It is substantially the same as - the map from  John Strype's edition of John Stow's, 'Survey of the cities of London and Westminster and Borough of Southwark' of the 1720 edition).

This in turn was based on a 1687 map by Richard Blome.

So not entirely to be trusted.

It is very useful for the detail of the courts running northward from the Strand.



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Horwood's Map of London.1799.

Depicting Hunts Court, Hudsons Court and Lancaster Court.


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Survey of the Lower end of St Martin's Lane.

Made just prior to the demolitions and clearance.

Showing Hudsons Court the first court East of St Martins Lane off the Strand





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The Rainbow Coffee House, Lancaster Court, between Strand and St Martin's Lane.

A few notes -

Active c. 1702 - 55.

Not to be confused with several other similarly named Coffee Houses.

(to be expanded on in due course).


https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/94590


The Rainbow was described as an "informal talking shop" for French speaking intellectuals in Chapter 9, The Religious Culture of the Huguenots, 1660-1750 edited by Anne Dunan-Page.

Voltaire visited in 1727.


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For The Rainbow, Dr John Misaubin and early Freemasonry see

https://www.thesquaremagazine.com/mag/article/202108the-much-maligned-dr-john-misaubin/



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Margaret Moffatt at the Golden Key and Star, Lancaster Court

c.1769.

Wellcome Collection.

Also available at - https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_margaret-moffat-at-the-_moffat-margaret_1769


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A catalogue of music, printed for William Napier (1740 - 1812), no. 474, at the corner of Lancaster Court, Strand, London, circa 1781. He must have been on the opposite corner to Francis Barron.

Copy in the Wellcome Collection.

https://wellcomecollection.org/works/mc6pkpmm


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Staunton and Sons, Corner of Lancaster Court and the Strand.1829.

W. Pocknell's fishmonger's shop, at no 473, next to the shop on the east corner of Lancaster Court; with figures inside, including a customer near the doorway, no 474, the shop premises of Staunton & Son, stationers, seen beyond at left, and adjoined at right Stretton's. 

Graphite drawing.

1829.

George Scharf.

British Museum.






Lancaster Court from the Strand - Note the date on the Street Name stone of 1715. 

This suggests the date of the building of the court on the site of the former Kings Arms.

Dated 1829.

George Scharf.

British Museum.
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View looking North East from the rear window at George Scharf's home at 3 St Martin's Lane.




Looking North East over Hudsons Court (off the Strand) and Hunts Court (off St Martins Lane).

The drawing annotated "back of houses in Lancaster Court.





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Francis Barron and the Barron Family.

Ironmongers.

475/476 The Strand, Westminster.



Receipt dated 16 March 1756 for a quart Turkey Coffee Pot 

Signed James Hawkes.

Hawkes lived at the premises on the corner of Surrey Street and the Strand.

Francis Barron was his father in law.


In 1756 433. (M.) James Polk , otherwise Pollock , was indicted for stealing two locks, value 8 s. three iron keys, value 3 s. five pair of steel snuffers, value 5 s. two brass cocks, value 2 s. one iron padlock, one frame saw, four pair of tongs, four iron fire-shovels, four iron pokers, eighteen iron screws, one pair of pincers, and one hand-vice , the goods of of Francis Barrow and James Hawkes , September 27 1756

He lodged with Charles Smith at Bowl Yard St Giles with his wife and three children.

Sentenced to be whipped.


https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/17561020

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There is a record of a court case of John Cardell who was working as a journeyman at a age of £20/annum for Philip Nind in 1743. 

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/petitions/westminster/1740s


























Everything for the fireplace and kitchen.

The interior of Francis Barron's shop on the corner of Lancaster Court and the north side of the Strand, Westminster. c.1830.

Drawing by George Scharf.

British Museum.



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William Humphrey (1745 - 1810). Engraver at Lancaster Court - 1786.

Brother of Hannah Humphrey.


1765: near New Street, St. Martin's Lane (CS p. 715),

Nov 1771- 15 June, 1774: The Shell Warehouse, opposite Cecil Court, St Martin's Lane

June 1774-October, 1778: Gerrard Street, Soho,

1776-88: 227, Strand (often in combination with 18 New Bond Street),

April 1777- March, 1778: 70 St Martin's Lane.

September 1780-1785: near Temple Bar, Strand (occasional variant on 227 Strand).

1786: Lancaster Court (occasional).

1801: 4 Rupert Street. Soho.


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R. Theed. Sword Cutler, Lancaster Court.

c. 1800.

https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-15460


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Harrisons, Printers, 6 Lancaster Court. c 1801 - 29.

moved to Orchard Street, and subsequently to 45, St Martin's Lane.

James Harrison -

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Note to self - Residents and Occupations St Martin's Parish, 1818.

The Poll Book, for Electing Two Representatives in Parliament for the City, 1818.


Very useful publication giving the residences and occupations of St Martin's parish and other Westminster Parishes.

Available on line

see - https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Poll_Book_for_Electing_Two_Represent.html?id=bSJkAAAAcAAJ&redir_esc=y

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The location of Lancaster Court between St Martin's Church Yard and the Strand.

From Horwoods Revised Map of 1819.

showing the projected "improvements"




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David Hume wrote in 1737 "I lodge at present in the Rainbow Coffee House in Lancaster Court"

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Drawing of the North side of the Strand.

March 1830.

George Scharf.

British Museum.

In the middle of this drawing is the premises of Banks (sometimes Bancks)
at the sign of the Golden Spectacles.

An eminent instrument-maker, Banks was Optician to the Prince of Wales, later George IV.


Robert Banks traded from 440 Strand from 1795 - 1804 then later from 441 between 1805 and 1830.



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Sixth Report of the Commissioners of Woods Forests and Land Revenue.

Vol 270, 1830.

Dated 5 June 1829.

Available on line.

Most of the properties were leasehold but a few were freehold.

This report gives the names and addresses and occupations of the owners or leaseholders who were bought out for the demolitions and improvements to the West end of the north side of the Strand, at the time when George Scharf was living above the shop at no 3 St Martins Lane.

The freeholders of 3 St Martins Lane.



Scharf moved to 14 Francis Street in 1830.

3 St. Martin's Lane, 1817-30; 14 Francis Street, Tottenham Court Road, 1830-1848; 

1 Torrington Square, 1848-1856.

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