| Description | The first four openings of the volume contain his notations of 'common occurrences' for Aug 1784 to Aug 1785, during the period Beechey lived in Norwich (1782-1787). These notes equate to a diary of sorts, relating to personal and business matters.
Includes entries relating to the following:
-p. 1v list of four amounts titled 'from Mr Leok'? [this name is uncertain] Apr and May 1799. Whether these amounts relate to payments made by or to Beechey is not clear.
-p. 1v also includes press-cutting dated 29 Feb 1885 or 1888 from the 'Sydney Morning Herald' pasted into the front of the volume. This cutting relates to the contents of the volume and its being in the possession of Beechey's descendants.
It appears that pages are missing at this point in the volume. There is some limited transference of ink on to p.1 from a now missing page.
-p. 2 - 21 Aug 1784, records visit to Lexham with Mrs Chase, Mrs Holl and Miss Mary Christmas in post chaise.
-p. 2-p. 2v - 22 Aug 1784, records visit to Raynham to see Lord Townshend's pictures. Includes reference to 'very fine' portraits by Van Dyck and criticism of a picture of Bellisarius by Salvator Rosa as 'rather like an actor than a real blind man' although he describes the design as 'admirable', the chiaroscuro as 'striking, but not judiciously contrived', and the colouring as 'excellent'. Return to Norwich and supper with Chase, Mr Bacon, Mrs B [Lady Beechey], Mrs Holl and Miss Christmas.
-p. 2v - 25 Oct [1784], record receipt of letter from Mr Ward regarding his new address in London.
-p. 2v - 'Mrs Beechey went to London last Tuesday was a month.' [text has been overwritten but legible]. The words 'the 28th Sept 1784' directly follow this text.
-p. 2v - section of undated text completely overwritten. Notes appear to relate to alleged drinking habits of an unnamed lady.
Note that the page immediately following this entry has been removed from the volume.
-p. 3 - undated, possibly 1785, records sale of Beechey's picture 'the fortune teller' to Mr Hudson for 40 guineas.
-p. 3 - undated, possibly 1785, remarking upon the good appearance of his pictures in exhibition. 'Mallby's looked rather flat'.
-p. 3 - 6 Aug , possibly 1785, records visit to Dr Cooper at Yarmouth and finishing picture of Mrs Cooper.
-p. 3 - 11 Aug, possibly 1785, records visit to Houghton as invited by Lord Orford [George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford (1730-1791]. Beechey notes that he stayed 3 days and was invited to return in 5 weeks when Cipriani [Giovanni Battista Cipriani (1727-1785)] and Fuseli [Henry Fuseli (1741-1825)] were also to be there.
-p. 3v - 16 Aug text overwritten
-p. 3v-p. 5 - probably 1785, records visit to Lord Orford's with Miles and Armstrong; meeting with Cipriani and Fuseli there. Remarks upon the recent death of Cipriani's only daughter 'a young lady of about 16'. Account of dinner and discussion between artists and other guests including 'aeronuats and balloon makers'. Beechey lists guests including Major Money of Norwich, Mr Blake, Mr Sheldon a surgeon and lecturer, Mr Thorne 'a projector of trifles', Lord Walpole and his son and Major Loyd. Includes some account of topics of conversation. Also includes (p. 4v) Beechey's recollection of remarks made by Fuseli when asked about current events in London, 'the manufacturers in Newham Street went on as usual', 'Reynolds was daubing away' and 'Gainsborough was painting pigs and blackguards'. Beechey also recalls that Cipriani and he, having noted Fuseli's aversion to James Barry R.A., resolved to tease him. Beechey recounts that the next day, as they drew together, he engaged Fuseli in conversation and sought his opinion on Barry's work. There follows some account of their discussion of Barry's painting ‘Commerce, or the Triumph of the Thames’, which was displayed at the Adelphi building occupied by the Royal Society of Arts, London. Includes references to Barry's composition, representation of Dr Burney [Dr Charles Burney], representation of nymphs and the river Thames.
With regard to dating the entries on pp. 3-5 William Roberts stated in his 1907 work 'Sir William Beechey, R.A.' that 'The visit to Lord Orford was in August 1785, for Cipriani died on December 14 of that year.' Allowing for the missing page which may have recorded further events in 1784, a tentative date of 1785 has therefore been assumed. |