Item 34: An Engraving of John Wilkes, by Johann Christian Gottfried, [ca. 1780], after, [ca. 1763]
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 4
Dates
- Created: [ca. 1763]
Creator
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
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Engraving
Condition Note:
Good.
Dimensions
6 ¾ in. x 4 in.
Title:
John Wilkes, Esqr
Description:
This engraving was made by Johann Christian Gottfried (1720-1802) to celebrate John Wilkes (1725-1797) and his election as the representative to the county of Aylesbury. The date of publication is in 1780, and at this time, Wilkes was no longer a representative of Aylesbury but Middlesex. The portrait displays Wilkes in a bust-length, profile depiction. He has on a powdered wig, white neck cravat, and two piece jacket and vest.
There may be a discrepancy of what information the artist was working with. The honorific placed beneath the engraving is for the character of John Wilkes’ stalwart manner. These phrases appear to be characterizing him with a list of juxtapositions, strength, valor, and greatness against an absence of state, happiness against misery, and riches though robbed. The platitudes arrive by a quote from Alexander Pope’s piece An Essay on Man.
The date of the item is estimated in the mid-late nineteenth century, measured by the life dates of John Wilkes and Johann Christian Gottfried.
Transcription:
JOHN WILKES Esqr:
Member of Parliament for Aylebury Bucks.
Great without Title, beyond Fortune bless[e]’d;
Rich ev[e]’n when plunder[e]’d , honour[e]’d while oppress[e]’d;
Lov[e]’d without Youth, & follow[e]’d without Power ;
At Home, tho’ [though] exil[e]’d; free, tho [though] in the Tower.
Pope
Groß, ohne Staat; im Elend auch beglückt ; Reich und beraubt; geehrt, und unterdrückt; Geliebt, nicht jung; nicht starf, bedient mit Treu: Verjagt im Land; und im Gefängnis freÿ.
{Rough Translation; Principles are similar to those in the English version} {"Great without State/Title; in misery yet blessed; Wealthy and robbed; honored, and oppressed; Learned, not young; not strong, yet served with loyalty; Exiled in the land, and in prison free."}
Groß, ohne Staat; im Elend auch beglückt ; Reich und beraubt; geehrt, und unterdrückt; Geliebt, nicht jung; nicht starf, bedient mit Treu: Verjagt im Land; und im Gefängnis freÿ.
{Rough Translation; Principles are similar to those in the English version} {"Great without State/Title; in misery yet blessed; Wealthy and robbed; honored, and oppressed; Learned, not young; not strong, yet served with loyalty; Exiled in the land, and in prison free."}
Creator
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