Subseries I: Art, 1763-1944, bulk 1763-1805
Sub-Series
Dates
- 1763-1944, bulk 1763-1805
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
From the Collection: 17 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Subseries I: Art, 1763-1944, bulk 1763-1805
Subseries I: Art, 1763-1944, bulk 1763-1805 is arranged chronologically and contains engravings, prints, portraits, and heraldry of John Wilkes and historical scenes from his life. Some notable artists include Edward Bocquet, Robert Edge “Pine”, Franz Heissig, William Hogarth, John Chapman (active 1792-1823), and John Miller[also known as Johann Sebastian Müller,c.1715–1792); however the vast majority of this collection is from unknown artists.
Many of these artists were well known for the time, however the most relevant to the life of Wilkes is William Hogarth, whose famous depictions of Wilkes became the most predominant and heavily circulated. William Hogarth was King George II’s portrait painter and long time friend of Wilkes until 1763 when the artist decided to make his first political cartoon of Wilkes’ friends, William Pitt and Earl Temple. After an argument, Hogarth retaliated by adding Wilkes into the print, beginning a feud which Hogarth took to his grave, as well as inciting the famous caricature of Wilkes that Hogarth created which was adapted by many artists of the time. Throughout the subseries there are several examples of this caricature by the artist which depicts Wilkes as extremely cross eyed, as well as examples of how this depiction was adapted later in Wilkes’ life. One notable aspect of his portraiture that can be observed within this subseries is that as he grew older, as well as how time moved further from Hogarth’s portraits of Wilkes, depictions of the figure grew more and more flattering.
Some examples of the scenes and events depicted or referenced within this subseries include the outlawry of Wilkes in 1768, the Letters of Junius, Wilkes’ charging of the King’s prime minister, Lord Bute, with corruption and bribery, the Massacre of St George's Fields, and the second expulsion of John Wilkes in Parliament in February 1769.
Many of these artists were well known for the time, however the most relevant to the life of Wilkes is William Hogarth, whose famous depictions of Wilkes became the most predominant and heavily circulated. William Hogarth was King George II’s portrait painter and long time friend of Wilkes until 1763 when the artist decided to make his first political cartoon of Wilkes’ friends, William Pitt and Earl Temple. After an argument, Hogarth retaliated by adding Wilkes into the print, beginning a feud which Hogarth took to his grave, as well as inciting the famous caricature of Wilkes that Hogarth created which was adapted by many artists of the time. Throughout the subseries there are several examples of this caricature by the artist which depicts Wilkes as extremely cross eyed, as well as examples of how this depiction was adapted later in Wilkes’ life. One notable aspect of his portraiture that can be observed within this subseries is that as he grew older, as well as how time moved further from Hogarth’s portraits of Wilkes, depictions of the figure grew more and more flattering.
Some examples of the scenes and events depicted or referenced within this subseries include the outlawry of Wilkes in 1768, the Letters of Junius, Wilkes’ charging of the King’s prime minister, Lord Bute, with corruption and bribery, the Massacre of St George's Fields, and the second expulsion of John Wilkes in Parliament in February 1769.
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu