The Gamesters: P.15114-R

Current Location: In storage

Titles

The Gamesters

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Ward, William
Publisher: Ackermann, Rudolph
Painter: Peters, Matthew William (After)

Entities

Description

After the painting by Matthew William Peters (probably painted 1785 (companion to Peters', The Fortune Teller); ?Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland). The two young card players have long been identified by an annotated impression of Ward's mezzotint in the British Museum (1876,1209.449) as the flamboyant and excessive Lord Courtenay (William, 3rd Viscount Courtenay, 1768-1835), to the left and Thomas Rowlandson, to the right. A third, older man stands behind Courtenay, purportedly assisting with his right hand as to which cards he should play, whilst behind his back, holding up three fingers to indicate what he is suggesting to Rowlandson. The spectator, meanwhile, is privy to further cheating on Rowlandson's part, as we can see that he is hiding the ace of diamonds behind his back.

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Joseph Prior, 1918 (received 1919-03)

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1919-03) by Prior, Joseph

Dating

19th Century
Production date: 1802-06-01 AD 1802

Note

Mezzotint. Second state following alteration of the publication line. Artists' names in dotted letters to left: 'Painted by the Rev.d Mr. Peters. R.A.' and right: 'Engraved by W.m Ward'. Title in closed, dotted letters: 'THE GAMESTERS' and caption in dotted letters below: 'Vice whatever sex or form it may assume leadeth to destruction, - woe to the unruly youth who hath been seduced into its acquaintance. / Peters'. Dedication in dotted letters below: 'To the young Nobility of England this Plate is most humbly Inscribed by their / devoted & obed. Servant J.R. Smith'. Publication line engraved below: 'London Pub.d 1st June 1802 at R ACKERMANN'S Repository of Arts 101 Strand'. First state was published by John Raphael Smith, May 22nd 1786.