Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth by William Hogarth

Author:William Hogarth [Hogarth, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-09-04T22:00:00+00:00

Hogarth, however, made several alterations and additions in this plate when it appeared to be finished. He changed in some measure all the countenances, and indeed the entire head and limbs of the chimney-sweeper, who had originally a grenadier's cap on. Miss had also a Doll, significantly placed under the trap composed of bricks, near which some sprigs from a tree are set in the ground, the whole contrivance being designed by some boy for the purpose of taking birds; but when occupied by Miss's Play-thing, became emblematic of the art of catching men. What relates, however, to this young lady from a boarding-school, was gross enough without such an amplification. The play-bill, sow-gelder, cats, dragg, &c. were not introduced, nor the pewterer's advertisement, nor the steeple in which the ringers are supposed. It is remarkable that the dustman was without a nose. The proofs of the plate in this condition are scarce. I have seen only one of them. [4] Mr. S. Ireland has the original sketch.

[1] "Mr. Festin has not been dead ten years. He was brother to the Festin who led the band at Ranelagh."

[2] In the second edition of these anecdotes, I had said "the musician was undoubtedly Castrucci ;" though one gentleman assured me it was Veracini. The error is here acknowledged, to shew the danger of receiving information upon trust. In the first edition, I had fallen into a less pardonable mistake, by supposing it was Cervetto, whom I described to be then lately dead. But " Hogarth's musician," as a friend on that occasion suggested to me, "is represented with a violin; whereas Cervetto's instrument was the violoncello; but, however that may be, he is now certainly living. He lodges at Friburg's snuff-shop, in The Haymarket, and may be seen every day at The Orange Coffeehouse, although he completed his 101st. year in November 1781." This extraordinary character in the musical world came to England in the hard frost, and was then an old man. He soon after was engaged to play the bass at Drury-lane theatre, and continued in that employment till a season or two previous to Mr. Garrick's retiring from the stage. He died June 14, 1783, in his 103d year. One evening when Mr. Garrick was performing the character of Sir John Brute, during the drunkard's muttering and dosing till he falls fast asleep in the chair (the audience being most profoundly silent and attentive to this admirable performer), Cervetto (in the orchestra) uttered a very loud and immoderately-lengthened yawn! The moment Garrick was off the stage, he sent for the musician, and with considerable warmth reprimanded him for so ill-timed a symptom of somnnolency, when the modern Naso, with great address, reconciled Garrick to him in a trice, by saying, with a shrug, "I beg ten tousand pardon! but I alvays do so ven I am ver much please!" Mr. Cervetto was distinguished among his friends in the galleries by the name of Nosey. See Gentleman's Magazine, 1783, p.

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