Mary of Buttermere

James Gillray (1757 - 1815)

Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum

1800 - 1802

Mary of Buttermere was the victim of bigamist James Hatfield, whose case was a sensation. James Gillray was a brilliant political caricaturist, and drawings by him are rare as he usually drew directly onto the engraver's plate. Wordsworth included Mary's story in Book VII of 'The Prelude', contrasting his own fate with hers. One drawing and one engraving.

• Medium: 1) pen & ink with pencil & grey wash; 2) hand coloured engraving
• Dimensions: 1) 26.7 x 20.3cm; 2) 30.5 x 23.2cm
• Art Fund Grant: £1500 ( Total: £12,500)
• ArtFunded in: 1993
• Vendor: Professor Michael Jaye

Provenance

Private collection, Germany; private collection, USA.

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