The Misers: P.14989-R

Current Location: In storage

Titles

The Misers

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Earlom, Richard
Publisher: Boydell, John
Painter: Massys, Quentin (After)

Entities

Description

After an oil on panel which was previously attributed to Quentin Massys (1465/6-1530) but which is now believed to be by a Follower of Marinus van Roymerswaele (c.1490-c.1567), known as The Misers (1548-51; Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 405707). Two men (identified as tax collectors) seated at a cloth-covered table, the figure on the right looking out towards the spectator and pointing to a ledger which his companion is filling in with a quill pen whilst examining a coin held in his other hand. The table is littered with coins, money bags and jewels. Writing paraphenalia is seen on the table to the left. A parrot sits on a perch behind the men to the left and a shelf above holds other ledgers and documents and an unlit candle.

Notes

History note: VanSittart gave 1,485 engravings to the Fitzwilliam Museum in 1879 and this mezzotint was probably included within this group. The number written in pen and ink on the verso presumably relates to Vansittart's own cataloguing system and that written in graphite to some kind of count by curators at the time of the acquisition.

Legal notes

Given by Augustus Arthur VanSittart, ?1879

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1879) by VanSittart, Augustus Arthur

Dating

18th Century#
Production date: 1770-05-08 AD 1770

Note

Mezzotint, printed in black ink. Scratched letter proof of the smaller plate by Earlom, Wessely's first state before title and prior to the cleaning of the inscription space. Scratched letters in the margin at lower left: 'Quintin Matsis pinx' and lower right: 'R E Sculp'. In scratched letters in the margin at lower centre: 'J Boydell Excudit / Publish'd May 8. 1770'. Remains of a four digit number written in pen and ink at upper right (last two digits possibly '...81') which is commonly seen on VanSittart prints. Inscribed in graphite at lower centre: 'From the Picture at Windsor'. Inscribed on the verso (curator's hand): 'VanSittart Collection'. Inscribed on the verso in graphite in large script: '400' and 'm 2'. Lennox-Boyd state I/V (See BM: 2010,7081.3349).

School or Style

British

Techniques used in production

Mezzotint

Identification numbers

Accession number: P.14989-R
Primary reference Number: 240036
Wessely (Earlom): 125.I (small plate, after Massys)
Hollstein (Dutch/Flemish): 3 (after Massys)
Nagler (Künstler-Lexicon): 4.37 ('nach Q. Messis', p.53)
Lugt: L.2479ter
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