A substantial and unusually complete group of copperplate illustrations from Matthew Brown's Newcastle edition of Ostervald's Bible (1791–1793). The set comprises 93 engraved plates from both the Old and New Testaments, including the Old and New Testament frontispieces. Many plates correspond to examples in the British Museum (reg. nos. 1872,1012.458–528). Surviving groups of this scale are uncommon on the market.
Artists/Engravers/Printers: Ralph Beilby, Thomas Bewick, Abraham Hunter, and William Shillito.
Titles:
- Frontispiece to the Old Testament [The absence of a British Museum registration number indicates that no corresponding engraving is recorded in the British Museum catalogue. Where Abraham Hunter's or William Shillito authorship is not specified, authorship should be understood as "print made by Beilby & Bewick".]
- Adam and Eve. 1872,1012.458 [Here and below, the numbers refer to the British Museum catalog (reg. nos. 1872,1012.458–528).]
- Adam accusing Eve. 1872,1012.459
- The Expulsion of Adam & Eve. 1872,1012.460
- Cain & Abel. 1872,1012.461
- Noah's Sacrifice. 1872,1012.462
- Melchizedek Blessing Abraham. 1872,1012.463
- Sarai giveth Hagar to Abram. 1872,1012.464
- Lot's Hospitality. 1872,1012.465
- Lot and his two Daughters. 1872,1012.466 [Abraham Hunter]
- Hagar in the Wilderness. 1872,1012.467
- Abraham's Faith. 1872,1012.468 [Abraham Hunter]
- The meeting of Abraham's Servant with Rebecca. 1872,1012.469
- Isaac blessing Jacob. 1872,1012.470
- Isaac blessing Esau. 1872,1012.471
- Jacob's Dream. 1872,1012.472
- The meeting of Jacob & Rachel. 1872,1012.473
- Laban and Jacob. 1872,1012.474 [Abraham Hunter]
- Moses in the Ark of Bulrushes. 1872,1012.475
- Moses & Zipporah. 1872,1012.476
- Moses' Rod turned into a Serpent.
- The Israelites departing out of Egypt. 1872,1012.477
- Pharaoh's Host drowned.
- Moses smiting the Rock. 1872,1012.478
- Moses receiving the Commandments.
- Moses's Anger. 1872,1012.479 [Abraham Hunter]
- Aaron. 1872,1012.480
- The Two Spies. 1872,1012.481
- Jael killeth Sisera. 1872,1012.482
- Jephthah's rash vow. 1872,1012.483
- Manoah's Sacrifice. 1872,1012.484
- Manoah and the Angel. 1872,1012.485
- Samson with the Gates of Gaza. 1872,1012.486
- David and Goliath. 1872,1012.487
- David playing before Saul. 1872,1012.488
- David and Abigail. 1872,1012.489
- Saul and the Witch of Endor. 1872,1012.490 [Abraham Hunter]
- Bathsheba Bathing. 1872,1012.491 [Abraham Hunter]
- Bathsheba mourning for the death of Uriah. 1872,1012.492 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Judgment of Solomon. 1872,1012.493
- Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. 1872,1012.494
- An exact representation of Solomon's Temple.
- Elijah convinceth Baal's Priests. 1872,1012.495
- Jeremiah taking the Girdle out of the Rock. 1872,1012.496 [William Shillito]
- Esther.
- Jonah. 1872,1012.498 [Abraham Hunter]
- Judith & Holofernes. 1872,1012.499
- Nebuchadnezzar driven among Beasts. 1872,1012.497 [Abraham Hunter]
- Bell and the Dragon. 1872,1012.500
- Frontispiece to the New Testament
- St. Matthew. 1872,1012.501 [Abraham Hunter]
- Christ Baptised. 1872,1012.502 [Abraham Hunter]
- Christ tempted in the Wilderness. 1872,1012.503 [Abraham Hunter]
- John the Baptist's Head brought to Herodias. 1872,1012.504 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Tribute Money. 1872,1012.505 [Abraham Hunter]
- Christ's Agony. 1872,1012.506
- Christ Betrayed. 1872,1012.507 [Abraham Hunter]
- Jesus Mocked. 1872,1012.508 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Crucifixion
- Bartimeus
- The Passover
- St. Luke. 1872,1012.509 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Annunciation. 1872,1012.510 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Prophecy of Elizabeth. 1872,1012.511 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Adoration of the Shepherds. 1872,1012.512
- The Presentation
- Christ in the Temple. 1872,1012.513
- Mary anointeth Christ's Feet
- Martha & Mary. 1872,1012.514
- The Repentant Sinner. 1872,1012.515 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Prodigal Son. 1872,1012.516
- Little Children brought to Christ. 1872,1012.517
- Peter's Repentance. 1872,1012.518 [Abraham Hunter]
- Christ going to be Crucified. 1872,1012.519 [Abraham Hunter]
- Christ laid in the Sepulchre
- Christ with the Two Disciples. 1872,1012.520 [Abraham Hunter]
- The Ascension
- The Record of John. 1872,1012.521
- Christ and the Woman of Samaria. 1872,1012.522
- The Adulteress
- Pilate thews Christ to the People [as titled on the plate]
- Christ in the Garden. 1872,1012.523 [Abraham Hunter]
- Thomas's Unbelief. 1872,1012.524 [Abraham Hunter, attributed to]
- The lame Man healed
- Stephen stoned
- Saul restored to Sight
- Peter delivered. 1872,1012.525
- Elymas
- Paul & Barnabas reputed as Gods. 1872,1012.526
- Paul preaching at Athens. 1872,1012.527
- Paul before Felix [Beilby & Bewick, attributed to]
- The Viper on the Hand of Paul
- St. Paul. 1872,1012.528
Inscriptions: Engraved for Osterwald's Bible; printed by M. Brown, Newcastle.
Dimensions: 16 1/2" x 10".
Publisher: Matthew Brown.
Edition: The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments; with practical observations on each chapter. Written by the late Reverend Mr. Ostervald, Professor of Divinity and one of the Ministers of the Church at Neuchatel in Switzerland. — Newcastle upon Tyne: Printed by M. Brown, at the Bible in the Flesh-Market, MDCCXCI–MDCCXCIII.
Date: 1791–1793.
Materials and Techniques: Etching and engraving on laid paper.
Watermark A watermark in the form of the Roman numeral six [VI] was found on the sheet "Noah's Sacrifice".
Provenance (based on handwritten inscriptions)
William Harden (?) Little Corby.
John Edward De Lacey & Mary Pigg.
July 15th 1879.
Mother gave this Book to Mrs De Lacey.
Presented to Mary De Lacey by her Mother — Elizabeth Pigg.
Wife of Joseph Pigg, who was second son of John Pigg of Low Cotehill, Carlisle, Cumberland.
Rachel Priscilla Pigg born 10th of November 1898 at 97 Greystone Road Carlisle.
The Estate of George "Yorgo" Demetrakopoulos; professor, assistant director of the Medieval Institute, and assistant to the dean at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, from 1965–2000.
Condition: The Frontispiece to the Old Testament is in poor condition, with losses to the paper along the margins; laid down on another sheet. The remaining leaves are irregularly trimmed along the edges. Some plates show offsetting. The signs of aging are appropriate for the period. A detailed condition report is available on request.
Museums, Libraries and Auctions: The British Museum, reg. nos. 1872,1012.458–528.
Art Movements, Periods and Schools: British School XVIII C.
Notes: The British Museum's assumption that they may have sheets from a copy of the 1806 edition could very well apply to our copy as well.
Acknowledgement: This entry incorporates text from the catalog entry of similar items from the British Museum collection.