Description:
English embroidery with the initials, "MA," on the lower center right and a scene based on Benjamin West's (1738-1820) "Death of Wolfe" done in 1770 and exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1771. West left America for Italy in 1759 and then to England in 1763, where he was commissioned by King George III to create portraits of members of the royal family and appointed historical painter to the court in 1772. Major-General James Wolfe (1727-1759) was placed in command of the British forces in the expedition against Quebec in 1759. His troops successfully attacked Quebec on Sept. 13, 1759; five days later, the French surrendered ensuring the English control of Canada. However, the Battle of Quebec took the lives of Wolfe, the French commander in chief, Montcalm, and 1500 French soldiers. Wolfe became a hero in England, and his prints and other commemorative items were also popular in the American colonies. The scene depicts a dying Wolfe laying on the ground surrounded by fellow officers. A soldier kneeling besides Wolfe is holding a cloth to his wound, while two standing men look on, one carrying a large flag and another clutching his hands in prayer. A seated indian also gazes at Wolfe as the battle continues in the background. There is a label on the back: "JAMES GOUGH./ (No. 219,) PICCADILLY, LONDON,/ MANUFACTURER OF/ ORNAMENTS in COMPOSITION and GILDING,' SUITABLE FOR ALL KINDS OF/ Looking Glasses, Girandoles, Picture Frames, Window cornices, Gilt/ Borders, and Mouldings for Rooms and Chimney Pieces/ with ever, other article in that Branch of Business in the neatest Manner...." Based on work done by Lea C. Lane at the Winterthur Museum, Ansell created this work, along with another pictorial needlework in wool on linen of Penn's Treaty with the Indians (Winterthur acc. no. 2014.0029.005). Both works were exhibited in the 1776 Society of Artists Exhibition held in London. Additionally, both works were framed by the same framemaker, James Gough. The Winterthur piece is labeled "M.Ansell" on the verso, and there is information on a partial label related to a boarding school in Tottenham, where Ansell either taught or was instructed.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+66.198 |
