A plate from A Book Of Ceilings… by George Richardson – £3400 at Minster Auctions
In full: A Book Of Ceilings, In The Style Of The Antique Grotesque; Composed, Designed, And Etched by George Richardson, Architect of 1776, those details also repeated in French on the title page.
This was Richardson’s (c.1737-c.1813) first published work and in the preface declares himself a former student of the Adam brothers (he worked with them as a draughtsman in both Edinburgh and London and had accompanied James Adam on the Grand Tour) and states that many clients and architects have already patronised his designs.
He adds that some of the plates show designs already executed including Lord Montalt’s house, Dublin; Draper’s Hall, London; Sir Robert Dundas’ house, Edinburgh; the Society of Artists’ exhibition room, London and the hall at Kedleston, Derbyshire. The work is dedicated by the author to ‘Lord Scarsdale of Kedleston’.
The volume, initially sold in eight parts to subscribers at 16s each from 1774-76, was available with the plates uncoloured or, as here, decorated in watercolour. He followed it in 1779 with a companion series of designs titled Iconology or A Collection of Emblematical Figures (1779). Both were circulated widely among plasterers, architects, designers and craftspeople.
A Book Of Ceilings… received a second edition in 1793 and has since been republished in the 20th century but first edition copies are scarce. The example at the Minster sale was offered in 18th century half calf and marbled boards.
It was estimated at £100-150 but took £3400.
