The Meeting in the Morning

Plate taken from The Musical Entertainer. London: Charles Corbett, [1737-1739 or later].

Bickham was principally known for this engraved work, first issued in fortnightly parts, each with four plates, between January 1737 and December 1739. A second edition was also brought out in parts 1740-41, and a third, printed from the original plates, was issued by John Ryall in 1765. The 200 plates are songs by Purcell, Handel, Haydn, Corelli, Pepusch and others, each headed with an engraved vignette, and quite apart from their musical interest they provide fascinating insight into the social life of the time. Eight of the designs are after Gravelot, and in Ray's opinion many others were imitated from Watteau's Oeuvre, leading him to say the song book "may almost be regarded as French." 

George Bickham the Younger (c. 1706–1771) was an English etcher and engraver, a printseller, and one of the first English caricaturists. He produced didactic publications, political caricatures, and pornographical prints. He was the son of the engraver George Bickham the Elder (1684–1758), who published the Universal Penman (1733–41).

Etching, printed on contemporary laid paper, with margins, perfect condition.

Bibliografia

Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1886). "Bickham, George (d.1758)". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 5. London: Smith, Elder & Co; Cohen-de Ricci 145-146; Ray, French Illustrated Book, 12.