Thank you so much, my Chilean ANGLOPHILE. Your contribution to this blog is immense. As you say, WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF FUN. Aren’t we, for sure!
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
January 6, 2013
December 28, 2012
ENGRAVING: “THE GLORIOUS BATTLE OF THE NILE! Fabulous. Thank you, Contributors.
This fabulous engraving came from a contributor, an Anglophile, in Chile, South America. I love all this in-put.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
March 2, 2012
December 13, 2011
GROSVENOR PRINTS, COVENT GARDEN: THE KIT-CAT CLUB ENGRAVINGS BY KNELLER
Many years ago, I became friends with one of the ladies who managed GROSVENOR PRINTS in Covent Garden. It was my goal to collect the 48 engravings of the Kit-Cat Club, all taken from the paintings of Kneller. I bought ten and put them at the top of my office stairs; and then for some reason, I went off to other things. I inherited three of them, and added one engraving each visit to London for a short period of time. I decided recently that it was time to complete the set before I pass on leaving only a partial set behind. To this end, this early morning I contacted my friend at GROSVENOR PRINTS to see if they might have any engravings from this set. To my great delight, I was told that they have in stock the entire collection of the KIT-CAT CLUB engravings. Needless to say, I am quite pleased. The history of the Kit-Cat Club is fascinating:
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
November 28, 2011
November 9, 2011
JAMES GILLRAY: Caricaturist, Satirist, and Printmaker (1756 – 1815)
Mrs. Moore and I went to New York in January 2004 to celebrate my birthday. To cheer me up, she took me to the JAMES GILLRAY EXHIBITION at the New York Public Library. I was familiar with Gillray’s work which I had encountered at the print shops in Cecil Court, in history books, and at various places in Williamsburg, Virginia. The social and political satire of the late 18th century/early 19th century pulled out all the plugs, and nothing was held sacred–not the King, the Prince Regent, Napoleon, the Government, Nelson, social mores, nor religious traditions. Every aspect of British life was under a microscope and made fun of. James Gillray was an engraver who sold his engravings in Mrs. Humphrey’s Print shop on St. James’s St., St. James’s, London. People would crowd the windows of the print shop to see the latest cartoons and caricatures. Some of these masterful engravings were so sensitive that even the Prince Regent offered to pay large amounts of money to destroy the engravings which offended him. They were a great source of public humor that exposed corruption, vulgarity, gluttony, styles, royal manners, and political injustices. Gillray’s prints were one of the sources which caused the British public to have little regard for their King Georges: III and IV. This engraver’s dislike for all things French reflects the long standing suspicion of all things on the other side of the English Channel–particularly Napoleon. James Gillray was eventually recognized for his high level of artistic work and was appointed to the Royal Academy. When you are wandering down Cecil Court or other print and engraving shops in London, see if you can find a JAMES GILLARY ENGRAVING. They are hilarious and will enrich your library walls. Wonderful. That’s the 18th and early 19th century Britain.
This one is particularly bitter showing King Louis XVI execution, the death of the Church, the death of the legal system–all carried out by the lowest level of society who were just having a Sunday holiday at the guillotine. Deep hatred of the French.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
October 19, 2011
CECIL COURT: STOREY’S PRINTS
I have written several articles about my enjoyment of STOREY’S PRINTS on Cecil Court, between Charing Cross Road and St. Martin’s Lane. Walking down this street is like walking back in time. Harry Potter certainly made it famous; but for me, STOREY’S PRINTS is the shop that draws me back and back to this street. I enjoy talking to Tim about his prints/engravings and wonder where in the world I can hang another image. Oh please enjoy this spot, and go into STOREY’S and tell Tim HELLO for Thomas Moore. He is really a fine chap. Visiting this shop is A MUST when visiting Covent Garden; it is another world–just like walking back in time.
Meet my friend, Tim, at STOREY’S PRINTS
Here are two engravings I would like to highlight this early morning:
THIS IS FABULOUS!
Don’t miss going to STOREY’S. I could look at these engravings for hours.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
July 29, 2011
THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII — FABULOUS IMAGE
I could spend hours enjoying this beautiful engraving showing the old Royal Palace during the reign of Henry VIII, long before its destruction by fire. Very interesting
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
February 28, 2011
STOREY’S PRINTS AND ENGRAVINGS – CECIL COURT
As you are aware, I haunt STOREY’S PRINTS AND ENGRAVINGS on Cecil Court. It is one of the first destinations I visit when I arrive in London. I have been collecting Vanity Fair satirical prints for a long time, and one entire wall at our home in the mountains is covered with the ones I like most. I think there are over 100 of them now–all from Storey’s.
Today, I learned that Storey’s has several James Gillray’s satirical copper engravings. I really enjoy Gillray’s engravings, and I was very excited to see several on offer at Storey’s. Gillray died about 1850, the beginning years of Queen Victoria’s reign and such harsh satire went out of fashion and was unheard of in the world around this Queen’s court. But, up until this period of time, political and social satire was all the rage. Even the Royal Family was subjected to it. There were numerous satircal engravings of such subjects as the sons of George III, particularly of George IV and his generous waistline and many “favorites.”
If you are wandering through Cecil Court, as I hope you will, drop into Storey’s Prints and Engravings and ask Tim to show you his satirical copper engravings. They are wonderful.
Enjoy
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
December 2, 2010
STOREY’S ON CECIL COURT Fine Engravings and Prints
As you all know, I am a regular customer at STOREY’S ON CECIL COURT IN COVENT GARDEN. Storey’s is highlighting two fine engravings which I want post on my blog. I love these fine pieces of history. When I arrive in London each visit, I drop my cases and head right to Cecil Court to visit Tim at Storey’s Look at these nautical engravings. Aren’t they beautiful?
Fabulous.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
