1804 Documents
Documents, Dated Watercolours and Early Accounts of the Artist
May 1804
Girtin’s master, Edward Dayes (1763–1804), dies by suicide.
12 May 1804
Administration is granted on Girtin’s estate to the value of £600 (National Archives (Prob. 6/179 f.616)):
Goods, chattels and credits of … granted to Mary Ann Girtin wife of the Deceased
Late of the Parish of St Martins in the Fields.
12 May 1804
Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings 1801-1842, ‘Girtin v Girtin. Bill and Answer. Plaintiffs: Mary Ann Girtin. Defendants: John Girtin’, 12 May 1804 (The National Archives (C 13/40/6 [W1804 G3]))
Mary Ann Girtin (1781–1843) lodges a Bill of Complaint against John Girtin (1773–1821) in the hope of recovering some of the income from the Eidometropolis, the panorama of London that was showing in Spring Gardens at the time of the artist’s death, as well as from the posthumous publication of Picturesque Views in Paris, of which Mary Ann was a co-publisher with John Girtin, who subsequently answered the Complaint. The lengthy document begins with Mary Ann’s Complaint:
Humbly complaining … Mary Ann Girtin of Islington … Widow Administratrix of all and every the Goods and Chattels of Thomas Girtin her late Husband deceased That your Gratrix’s said late Husband was an artist of considerable Eminence and made and prepared Sketches Drawings and Etchings of various sorts for Sale And he was also possessed of a large picture or view of London generally known by the name of the Eidometropolis which for some time previously to and in the month of November One thousand eight hundred and one he exhibited to the public in a Room at Spring Gardens near Charing Cross and the admission to such Exhibition was One shilling for each person admitted And your Gratrix further sheweth unto your Lordship the health of your Gratrix’s said late husband being in a very precarious state he in or about the said month of November One thousand eight hundred and one formed a Resolution of going to paris for the recovery thereof And on his departure John Girtin of Little Newport Street Soho in the county of Middlesex Engraver the defendant hereto and who was the Brother of your Gratrix’s said late Husband lent and advanced to him the Sum of Eighty pounds or thereabouts towards defraying the Expenses of his journey And your Gratrix’s said late Husband at the same time placed several very valuable Sketches Drawings and Etchings in the hands of the said John Girtin
And the said John Girtin during the absence of your Gratrix’s said late husband in paris sold the Sketches Drawings and Etchings delivered to him as aforesaid for a very considerable Sum of Money or otherwise disposed of the same and received the Admission money for the said Exhibition to a very considerable amount And he had left in his hands a very considerable Sum of money in respect of such Admission Money But he never accounted to your Gratrix’s said late Husband in his life time nor has he accounted to your Gratrix since his decease for such Admission Money or for the Money produced by the sale of the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings And your Gratrix’s said late Husband during his stay in paris made divers Sketches of Views in paris and the neighbourhood with an intention of publishing such views in Aquatinta on his return to London and accordingly on his return to London in or about the beginning of the Month of May One thousand eight hundred and two your Gratrix’s said late Husband made twenty drawings from the said Sketches and etched the plates from such drawings himself and procured the Assistance of other Artists to complete the plates in Aquatinta and by their assistance all the said twenty plates one only excepted were completed in the life time of your Gratrix’s said late husband And your Gratrix’s said late Husband procured divers Subscriptions for copies of the said Views to be published by him under the Title of Views in paris and its Environs at the Rate of five Guineas the Sett for common Impressions and Six Guineas for proof Impressions of the plates but the Subscription Money by the Terms of the Subscription was not to be paid before the delivery of the Work nor was the same nor was any part thereof in fact paid to your Gratrix’s said late husband by any of the Subscribers to the work in his life time And Gratrix further Sheweth unto your Lordship that your Gratrix’s said late Husband departed this life on or about the ninth day of November One thousand eight hundred and two intestate and nineteen of the said plates were completed in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin and upon his death the said John Girtin took upon himself the management of the publication of the said Views and he procured the said unfinished plate to be completed and the Impression to be struck off and he delivered copies of the Impressions of the plates to such persons respectively as had subscribed for the same in the life time of your Gratrix’s said late husband and received their respective Subscription money and there is now in his hands a very considerable Sum of money on account of such Subscription money for which the said John Girtin has not accounted to your Gratrix And the said John Girtin upon the death of Gratrix’s late Husband received or possessed himself also of divers large Sums of money of and due to your Gratrix’s said late husband and of divers of the Goods and Chattels of your Gratrix’s said late Husband And your Gratrix further sheweth unto your Lordship that on or about the twelfth day of May one thousand eight hundred and three your Gratrix took out Letters of Administration in the prerogative court of Canterbury of the Goods and Chattels of your Gratrix’s said late husband And your Gratrix as such Administratrix applied to the said John Girtin and requested him to account with your Gratrix for what was due from him to the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late Husband at the time of his decease in respect of the Sale of the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings first hereinbefore mentioned and of the produce of the said Exhibition And also to account with your Gratrix for the said Subscription Money for the said views of Paris received by him as aforesaid Request as in Justice and Equity he ought to have done But now so it is may it please your Lordship that the said Thomas Girtin combining and confederating to and with divers other persons at present unknown to your Gratrix whose names when discovered your Gratrix prays may be inserted herein and they made further defendants hereto with apt words to charge them and contriving how to wrong and injure your Gratrix in the promises he refused to comply with such Requests and to Justify such refusal he at times pretends that the Subscription Money for the said Views received by him amounted but to a small and inconsiderable Sum of money and that the other monies Goods and Chattels of your Gratrix’s said late Husband which were received or possessed by him as aforesaid were of very small and inconsiderable value And that he has applied and disposed of the whole of such Subscription Money Monies Goods and Chattels together with divers Sums of money of his own in and towards the payment of the Expenses of the publication and delivery of the said Views and otherwise in satisfaction of the Just debts of your Gratrix’s said late Husband Whereas your Gratrix charges the contrary of such pretences to be true and that the Subscription money for the said views received by him amounted to a very large and considerable Sum of Money And that the other monies Goods and Chattels of your Gratrix’s said late Husband which were received or possessed by him as aforesaid were of great and considerable value and that he has applied and disposed of a very small part of such Subscription money monies Goods and Chattels in and towards the payment of the expences of the publication and delivery of the said views or otherwise in satisfaction of the Just debts of your Gratrix’s said late Husband and that there is remaining in the hands of the said John Girtin a very considerable balance in respect of the said Subscription Money Monies goods and Chattels and so the said Defendant will at times admit but then he pretends that besides the said Sum of Eighty pound she did in the life time of your Gratrix’s said late husband advance divers sums of Money to him and on his account all of which were unaccounted for by your Gratrix’s said late husband at the time of his decease and that the produce of the Sale of the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings hereinbefore first mentioned and that the money received by him from the said Exhibition amounted to a small and inconsiderable Sum of money and that there was a considerable balance due to him the said defendant from the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late husband at the time of his decease and that he is entitled to retain the said Subscription money monies Goods and chattels received and possessed by him as aforesaid since the death of your Gratrix’s said late husband in and towards satisfaction of the balance due to him from the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late husband at the time of his death Whereas your Gratrix charges the contrary of such pretences to be true and that the said defendant besides the said sum of Eighty pounds did not advance any sum of money to or for the Account of your Gratrix’s said late husband which was not accounted for by him to the said defendant in his life time and that the produce of the Sale of the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings first hereinbefore mentioned and the money received by him from the said Exhibition amounted to a large and considerable Sum of Money and that there was not any balance due to the said defendant from the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late husband at the time of his decease And your Gratrix insists that if there was such balance in favor of the said Defendant yet that the said Defendant is not entitled to retain the said Subscription Money and the Monies Goods and Chattels received and possessed by him as aforesaid since the death of your Gratrix’s said late Husband in and towards satisfaction of the balance so due to him but that having made himself Executor de son tout in receiving and possessing himself of such Subscription money monies Goods and Chattels and applying and disposing of the same He is bound to answer and account for the same of your Gratrix And that in respect of the debt due to him (if any) from your Gratrix’s said late husband he is only entitled to come in and be paid pari passu with the other creditors of your Gratrix’s said late husband in case of a deficiency of Afects But nevertheless the said defendant persists in his refusal to comply with your Gratrix said requests and he also threatens to commence some action on other proceedings at Law against your Gratrix to recover some sum of money which he alleged to be due to him from your Gratrix on balance of the aforesaid accounts All of which Actings doings and pretences of the said confederates are contrary to Equity and good Conscience and that to the manifest wrong and Injury of your Gratrix In tender consideration whereof and for as much as your Gratrix is remediless in the promises by the strict Rules of the common Law and cannot have adequate relief therein save in a court of Equity where matters of this nature are properly cognizable and relievable To the End that the said John Girtin and his confederates when discovered may upon their several and respective Oaths according to the best of their several and respective knowledge Remembrance Information and belief full true direct and perfect answer make to all and singular the matters and things aforesaid as fully and particularly as if the same were here repeated and they thereunto distinctly interrogated and more especially that they may in manner aforesaid Answer and set forth Whether your Gratrix’s said late husband was not an Artist of considerable eminence And whether he did not make and prepare Sketches Drawings and Etchings of divers sorts for sale And whether he was not possessed of such large picture or view of London generally known by the name of the Eidometropolis or some such large picture or view of London as hereinbefore in that behalf mentioned And whether the same was not previously to and in the Month of November one thousand eight hundred and one or at some other and what time exhibited to the public in a room at Spring Gardens aforesaid or at some other and what place And whether the admission to such Exhibition was not one shilling for each person admitted or what else was the price of admission And whether your Gratrix’s said late husband did not in or about the said month of November One thousand eight hundred and one or at some other and what time from a Resolution of going to Paris And whether on his departure the said defendant did not lend and advance to him the said sum of Eighty pounds or some other and what sum of money towards defraying the expences of his journey And whether your Gratrix’s said late husband did not at the same time place in the hands of the said Defendant several or some and what very valuable Sketches Drawings and Etchings And whether he did not place the same in the hands of the said defendant for sale or as a colateral Security or how otherwise and whether the said Defendant did not during the Absence of your Gratrix’s said late husband in paris sell the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings for a very considerable or some and what Sum of Money and receive the Admission Money for the said Exhibition to a very considerable or some and what amount And whether he has not in his hands a very considerable Sum of money in respect of such admission money or how otherwise And whether he ever accounted to your Gratrix’s said late husband in his life time or has accounted to your Gratrix since his decease for the money produced by the sale of the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings or for and what part of the Money so received by him as aforesaid And whether Gratrix’s said late husband did not during his stay in Paris make divers Sketches of views in Paris and the neighbourhood with an intention of publishing such views on his return to London or with some other and what intention And whether he did not return to London in or about the beginning of the month of May one thousand eight hundred and two or at what other time And whether he did not accordingly on his return make twenty plates (one only excepted) were nor completed in the life time of your Gratrix’s said late husband or how otherwise And whether your Gratrix’s said late husband did not procure divers or some and what number of Subscriptions for copies of the said views upon the terms hereinbefore in that behalf mentioned or upon some such or some other and what terms And whether such Subscriptions or any and what part thereof were or was paid to him in his life time by the Subscribers to the work or any of them And whether your Grastrix’s said late Husband did not depart this life on or about the ninth day of November one thousand eight hundred and two or when else he died. And whether he did not die intestate And whether upon his death defendant did not take upon himself the management of the publication of the said Views or how otherwise And whether he the said Defendant did not procure the said unfinished plate to be completed and the Impression to be struck off And whether he did not deliver copied of the plates to such persons respectively as had subscribed for the same either in the life time or after the decease of your Gratrix’s said late husband or to some and which of them And whether he did not receive their respective Subscription Money or how otherwise And whether there is not remaining in his hands a very considerable or some and what Sum of Money in respect of such Subscription Money And whether he has accounted to your Gratrix for such Money or and what part thereof And whether he the said Defendant did not upon the death of your Gratrix’s said late husband receive or possess himself of divers or some and what large Sums of Money of and due to your Gratrix’s said late husband and of divers or some and what of the Goods and Chattels of your Gratrix’s said late husband And whether your Gratrix did not on or about the twelfth day of May one thousand eight hundred and three or at some other and what time take out Letters of Administration in the prerogative Court of Canterbury of the Goods and Chattels of her said late husband And whether your Gratrix hath not made or caused to be made to the said defendant such Applications and Requests as hereinbefore in that behalf mentioned And whether he hath not refused to comply therewith and why he hath refused so to do and that the said defendant may set forth a full true and particular Account of the Subscription Money to the said Views of paris and its Environs which has been received by the said defendant or any person or persons by his order or for his use And also of all Sums of Money Goods and Chattels of or belonging to the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late husband which in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin or since his decease have been received by or possessed by him the said defendant or by any person or persons by his order or for his use and of the manner in which he the said defendant has applied and disposed of such Subscription Money Sums of Money Goods and Chattels and every part thereof and of the produce of the sale of the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings hereinbefore first mentioned and of the Admission Money to the said Exhibition received by the said defendant or by any person or persons by his Order or for his use And whether there was any and what balance due to the said defendant from the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late husband at the time of his decease And whether he doth not thereafter or intend to commence some and what Action other and what other proceedings at Law against your Gratrix for to recover some and what sum of Money which he alledges to be due to him from your Gratrix on balance of the aforesaid Account or for some and what other purpose And that an account may be taken by and under the direction of this Honorable court of the Subscription Money to the said views of Paris and its Environs which has been received by the said defendant or by any person or persons by his order or for his use And also of all Sums of Money Goods and Chattels of or belonging to the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late husband which in his life time or since his decease have been received or possessed by the said defendant or any persons by his Order or for his use And that an Account may also be taken of the said Sum of Eighty pounds and all Sums of Money advanced by the said Defendant to or for the use of your Gratrix’s said late Husband in his life time and which remained unaccounted for by him at the time of his decease and of the produce of the Sale of the said Sketches Drawings and Etchings hereinbefore first mentioned and of the Admission Money to the said Exhibition received by the said Defendant or by any person or persons by his order or for his use And that the said Defendant may be decreed to pay to your Gratrix what upon the taking of the said last mentioned Accounts shall appear to be coming to the Estate of your Gratrix’s said late husband your Gratrix being ready and willing and hereby offering in case the balance of the said last mentioned Accounts shall be in favour of the said defendant to account with him for the personal Estate and Effects of your Gratrix’s said late Husband and to pay such balance in a course of Administration out of the Assets as far as they shall extend of your Gratrix’s said late husband And that in the mean time the said defendant may be restrained by the Injunction of the Honorable Court from commencing any Action or other proceedings at law against your Gratrix touching the matter aforesaid or any of them and that your Gratrix may have such further and other Relief as this case may require and to your Lordship shall seem meet may it please your Lordship the premises considered to grant unto your Gratrix not only his Majesty’s most gracious writ of Injunction issuing out of and under the Seal of this honorable court to be directed to the said John Girtin to restrain him from proceeding at Law against your Gratrix touching any of the Matters in question but also his Majesty’s most gracious Writ or Writs of Subpoena to be directed to the said John Girtin and to the rest of the confederates when discovered thereby commanding them and every of them at a certain day and under a certain pain therein to be limited personally to be and appear before your Lordship in this Honorable Court and then and there full time direct and perfect answer make to all and singular the premises and further to stand to person and Abide such further Order direction and decree therein as to your Lordship shall seem meet And your Gratrix shall ever pray &ct
John Girtin's extensive Answer to Mary Ann Girtin's Complaint reads:
The Answer of John Girtin the Defendant to the Bill of Complaint of Mary Ann Girtin Widow Complainant
This Defendant now and at all times saving and reserving to himself all manner of exception to the many errors uncertainties and other imperfections in the said Complainants Bill of Complaint contained for answer thereto or unto so much and such parts thereof as this Defendant is advised it is in any manner material or necessary for him to make answer unto he this Defendant answering Saith he admits it to be true that Thomas Girtin in the said Bill of Complaint named the late husband of the said Complainant and the Brother of him this Defendant was an artist of considerable eminence and made and prepared Sketches Drawings and Etchings of various sorts for sale and that he was possessed of a large Picture or View of London generally known by the name of the Eidometropolis and which in the month of August one thousand eight hundred and two and not at any time previous to the month of November one thousand eight hundred and one as in the said Complainants said Bill of Complaint is alleged was exhibited to the Public in a Room at Spring Gardens near Charing Cross and that the admission to such Exhibition was one shilling for each person admitted and this Defendant further answering saith he admits it to be true that the health of the said Thomas Girtin being in a very precarious state he in or about the month of November one thousand eight hundred and one formed a resolution of going to Paris for the recovery thereof and intended whilst he should remain at Paris to exhibit his said Picture there but the said Thomas Girtin being unable to leave London for want of money he applied unto this Defendant to assist him therewith which he this Defendant agreed to do and which accordingly previously to the departure to the said Thomas Girtin for Paris lend and advance unto him the sum of one hundred pounds four shillings (and not the sum of Eighty pounds or thereabouts as in the said Complainant’s Bill untruly stated) towards defraying the expenses of the Journey of the said Thomas Girtin and for his other occasion and upon this Defendant’s having advanced to the said Thomas Girtin the said sum of one hundred pounds four shillings he placed and left in the hands of this Defendant several Sketches and Drawings but not any Etchings by way of pawn or as a Security for the repayment of the said sum of one hundred pounds four shillings But this Defendant denies it to be true that this Defendant did during the absence of the said Thomas Girtin in Paris sell or dispose of the Sketches and Drawings which were deposited with him this Defendant as aforesaid or any of them But this Defendant admits that he did after the death of the said Thomas Girtin sell several of the Sketches and Drawings which were deposited with him this Defendant as aforesaid for the sum of Thirty pounds or thereabouts and which was the largest price or sum he this Defendant could get or obtain for the same And this Defendant further answering saith that it was originally the intention of the said Thomas Girtin to have exhibited the said Picture in Paris could he have obtained permission to do so but which permission the said Thomas Girtin was unable to obtain as he this Defendant hath been informed and believed And therefore it was after the return of the said Thomas Girtin from Paris agreed between the said Thomas Girtin and him this Defendant that he this Defendant should exhibit the said Picture in London for and on the account of the said Thomas Girtin And that he this Defendant should receive the admission money for such Exhibition and should defray all the charges and expenses attending the said Exhibition And this Defendant admits it to be true that he did accordingly after the return of the said Thomas Girtin from Paris exhibit the same Picture from the month of august one thousand eight hundred and two until the month of December 1802 and did during such time receive the admission money for the said Exhibition amounting in the whole to the sum of one hundred and one pounds seven shillings or thereabouts and no more as this Defendant verily believes But this Defendant denies it to be true that he ever had or has now left in his hands a very considerable or any sum of money in respect of such admission money for on the contrary this Defendant saith that he this Defendant did actually and necessarily pay lay out and expend in keeping and continuing open the said Exhibition the sum of one hundred and thirteen pounds four shillings and three pence halfpenny more than what he this Defendant received in respect of the admission money for the said Exhibition exclusive of this Defendant’s time and trouble in conducting the said Exhibition or of any charge for a Boy employed and paid by this Defendant during the whole of such Exhibition But this Defendant admits it to be true that he never did account to the said Thomas Girtin in his life time nor has he accounted to the said Complainant since the decease of the said Thomas Girtin for such admission money or for the money produced by the sale of the said Sketches and Drawings But this Defendant saith he was always ready and willing and hath offered to the said Complainant to account for the matters last mentioned And this Defendant further answering saith he admits it to be true that the said Thomas Girtin did during his stay in Paris make divers Sketches of Views in Paris and the neighbourhood with an intention of publishing such Views in Aquatinta on his return to London and this Defendant also admits it to be true that the said Thomas Girtin did return to London in or about the beginning of the month of May one thousand eight hundred and two And that on his return to London he made twenty Drawings from the said Sketches but the said Thomas Girtin not being perfectly acquainted with the art of Etching he applied to this Defendant to teach him to etch and proposed that he the said Thomas Girtin and this Defendant should be jointly concerned and interested in publishing the Views herein after mentioned to which proposal this Defendant acceded though no terms or stipulations in particular with respect to such concern was then or at any other time mentioned or agreed by the said Thomas Girtin and from this Defendant And this Defendant further answering saith that he this Defendant having taught the said Thomas Girtin the art of Etching the said Thomas Girtin with the assistance of this Defendant etched the Plates from the said Drawings And this Defendant procured the assistance of other artists (except one whose assistance was procured by the said Thomas Girtin) to compleat the Pictures in Aquatinta and by their assistance seventeen Plates and no more and not nineteen as in the said Complainants Bill untruly alledged were completed in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin And this Defendant further saith he believed it to be true that the said Thomas Girtin did procure a few (but what number in particular he this Defendant cannot set forth) Subscriptions for Copies of the said Views to be published under the Title of Views in Paris and its Environs at the rate of Five guineas the Sett for common Impressions and Six guineas for Proof Impressions of the Plates And this Defendant admits that the Subscription money by the Terms of the Subscription was not to be paid before the delivery of the Work And this Defendant saith he believes it to be true that such Subscriptions or any part thereof were not was not in fact paid to the said Thomas Girtin by any of the Subscribers to the said work in his life time And this Defendant further answering saith he admits it to be true that the said Thomas Girtin departed this life on or about ninth day of November one thousand eight hundred and two But this Defendant denies it to be true as herein before is set forth nineteen of the said Plates were completed in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin as in the said Bill of Complaint is alleged And this Defendant further answering saith that in pursuance of the dying request of the said Thomas Girtin and also at the instance of the said Complainant between whom and from this Defendant an agreement was after the death of the said Thomas Girtin made to be jointly interested in publishing the said Work he this Defendant did upon the death of the said Thomas Girtin take upon himself the management of the Publication of the said Views and he procured divers Subscriptions to the said Work and he also procured the unfinished plates to be completed and the Impressions to be struck off And this Defendant saith that from the beginning of the said Work unto the completion thereof and for some time afterwards he this Defendant devoted the principal part of his time and attention thereto for the space of twenty one months or thereabouts And this Defendant further answering admits it to be true that after the said Impressions were struck off he delivered Copies of the Impressions of the Plates to such Persons respectively as had subscribed for the same as well in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin as after his death And that he this Defendant received their respective Subscription money for the same But this Defendant saith that he paid laid out and expended in carrying on the said work in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin and also in carrying on and completing the same after his death a larger sum of money than what he this Defendant hath received for Subscriptions or otherwise in respect of the said Work for this Defendant saith that he did in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin find and provide money for carrying on the same Work and that he this Defendant hath since the death of the said Thomas Girtin found and provided money for completing the same And that this Defendant hath by and out of his own monies paid the greatest part of the charges relating to and attending the said Work And this Defendant saith that every charge relating to and attending the said Work hath been paid except the sum of Sixty four pounds nine shillings and four pence halfpenny which he this Defendant saith he is now liable to on account thereof And this Defendant denies it to be true that he hath now or that there is now remaining in his hands a very considerable or any sum of money on account or in respect of such Subscription money for which he this Defendant hath not accounted to the said Complainant And this Defendant further answering saith he admits it to be true that he this Defendant did upon the death of the said Thomas Girtin receive the Subscription money for the said Views and that the same did not amount to a sufficient sum of money to pay the expences on account of the said Work including the work done by him this Defendant in the publication of the said Views and by the several other persons employed by this Defendant in the said Work And this Defendant also admits it to be true that he this Defendant received and possessed besides the said Subscription monies divers monies Goods and Chattels of the same Complainants said late husband the particulars whereof he this Defendant hath specified in the Schedule to this his answer underwritten or annexed and which he this Defendant prays may be taken as part of this his answer But this Defendant saith that the Monies Goods and Chattels which were received or possessed by him this Defendant as last mentioned were but of very small and inconsiderable value And that he this Defendant has applied and disposed of the whole of such subscription money / monies Goods and Chattels (save and except sundry Sketches and Drawings and other articles of the value of Forty pounds or thereabouts as he this Defendant verily believes and which are now in the custody or possession of him the Defendant together with divers sums of money of his own in and towards the payment of the expences of the said Publication and delivery of the said Views and otherwise in satisfaction of the just debts of the said Complainant’s said late husband And this Defendant further answering saith he believes it to be true that the said Complainant did at or about the time in the said Bill of Complaint in that behalf mentioned take out Letters of Administration in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury of the Goods and Chattels of the said Thomas Girtin And this Defendant admits it to be true that the said Complainant hath made or caused to be made to him this Defendant such applications and requests as in the said Bill of Complaint in that behalf mentioned But this Defendant denies it to be true that he hath refused to comply herewith for on the contrary this Defendant saith he hath always been willing to come to such Accounts as is in the said Bill of Complaint mentioned he this Defendant being a Creditor of the Estate of the said Thomas Girtin And this Defendant saith that he did on or about the eighteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and three deliver to Mr. Mangnall the Solicitor of the said Complainant in this Cause an account of his this Defendant’s receipts and payments in respect of the matters in the said Complainants Bill mentioned up to that time and correctly as he this Defendant could make out the same And this Defendant further answering saith that besides the said sum of one hundred pounds four shillings lent and advanced by him this Defendant to the said Thomas Girtin as herein before is mentioned he this Defendant did in the life time of the said Thomas Girtin advance to him and pay for his use and on his account divers sums of money all of which were unaccounted for by the said Thomas Girtin at the time of his death And that in fact there was at the time of the death of the said Thomas Girtin and now is a considerable balance due from his Estate to the said Defendant And this Defendant submits that he was intitled to retain and apply the said Subscription money monies Goods and Chattels received and possessed by him this Defendant as aforesaid in and towards satisfaction of the charges and expences of the aforesaid Publication and of the balance due to him this Defendant from the Estate of the said Thomas Girtin at the time of his death And this Defendant humbly insists that he this Defendant as being interested with the said Thomas Girtin in his life time and with the said Complainant after his death in the publication of the said Work had a right to receive the Subscription money for the same and to apply such Subscription money in payment of the charges and expences incident to and attending the aforesaid Publication. And this Defendant further answering saith he hath in the said Schedule to this Answer underwritten or annexed set forth according to the best of his knowledge remembrance and belief a full and particular account of all and every the sums of money advanced lent and paid by him this Defendant too for the use or on the account of the said Thomas Girtin in his life and also of the Subscription money to the said Views of Paris and its Environs which have been received by him this Defendant or any Person & Persons by his order or for his use And also of such Sketches and Drawings and other articles belonging to the said Thomas Girtin deceased as are now in the possession or power of him this Defendant And this Defendant saith there was a balance or sum of One hundred and nineteen pounds fifteen shillings and eleven pence due to him this Defendant from the estate of the said Thomas Girtin at the time of his decease exclusive of several sums of money which had been at that time advanced and paid by him this Defendant on account of the said Work and otherwise for the use and on account of the said Thomas Girtin And this Defendant denies it to be true that he hath threatened to commence any action or other Proceedings at Law against the said Complainant as in the said Bill of Complaint in that behalf is alledged But this Defendant humbly submits that if he should be advised so to do he ought not be restrained by the Injunction of this Court from so doing And this Defendant denies all and all manner of unlawful Combinations and Confederacy wherewith he is charged Without this that that there is any other matter cause or thing in the Complainants said Bill of Complaint contained material or effectual in Law for this Defendant to make answer unto and not herein and hereby well and sufficiently answered avoided traversed or denied is true to the knowledge and belief of this Defendant All of which matters and things this Defendant is ready and willing to aver maintain and prove as this Honorable Court shall direct and humbly prays to be hence dismissed with his Costs and Charges in this behalf wrongfully sustained
John Girtin's Answer to Mary Ann Girtin's Complaint is followed by ‘The Schedule’ (Chancery, Income and Expenses, 1804). This is a detailed breakdown of the sums that John expended on the Eidometropolis (the London panorama that was on show at Spring Gardens at the time of the artist’s death) and the twenty aquatints of the Picturesque Views in Paris, together with the income received from both projects. (1804 – Item 1)
The late Mr Thomas Girtin and his Estate – in Account with John Girtin
Dr. [Debit]
1796
£ s d Jany 14.
For a vol of Don Quixote 6 Octr 11th
Lent him to pay his Rent at Mr Hollands 5 5 1797
Feby 13
D.o 10 6 17
D.o to Mr Powell the Broker 16 16 Novr 6
D.o a £5 note sent him to Exeter 5 2
D.o - D.o to Biddeford 5
Paid for porterage of the Sketch of 3
Exeter Cathedral
Money lent him 3 1799
D.o 1 11 6
Paid the Man for repairing his Mattress 7 6
Money lent 2 6
D.o 4 6
Black silk of Mr Ray 15 6 Decr 31st
Balance of Exp.s for Housekeepg at 19 11 2
Long Acre 1800
Mar 31st
Cash in part of Mr Powell’s note 4 13
Money lent 4 3 17th
D.o 1 1 1801
Apr 4th
D.o to take up a note of Mr Powell’s 2 11 8 Sept 7th
D.o to pay his Men employed in
painting the picture of London 2 8th
D.o ------ D.o -------D.o 5 19th
D.o ------ D.o -------D.o 12 12 26th
D.o ------ D.o -------D.o 9 19 6 Novr 4th
D.o ------ D.o -------D.o 10 6 9th
D.o ------ D.o -------D.o 4 4 12th
D.o to go to Paris 100 4 1802
April
J Girtin for time in looking out for a 10 10
situation to exhibit the picture of
London in attendance on Lord Kinnaird
Mr. Trotter Mr. Morland &.c &.c &.c May 4.
Lent him at the angel when he 2 3 6 retd from France
June 1
D.o - at Islington 1 July 28th
Mr Pritchard for Matting 3 10
Mr Andrews for Green Baize 17 Sepr 4
Mr Lepard for Paste Boards 2 4 Oct 4th
J Girtin for furnishing materials for the 21
Etching of the plates of Paris Laying
Grounds Biting in the Plates and
repairing parts deficient in the Etching 9th
Money lent him 7 19th
Paid Mr. Middleton 12 17 5
Paid Mrs Parker for washing 8 11 Nov 2d
Money lent him at Mr Norman’s 1 11 6 16th
Pd sundry small Bills for the funeral 1 6 8 Nov 30
D.o Mr Wigley for 17 weeks Rent £5.5 89 17 6
pr week Decr 9th
Mr Picket for Engraving 10 10 31st
Paid for the attendance of 2 Men in the 36 3
Exhibition at Spring Gardens for 22
weeks from August 2d 1802
Nov 23d
Omitted paid Mr Harraden for Engravd 10 10 Dec 31st
J. Girtin for time in repeated attendance 44 6
upon Mr Wigley and in planning and
conducting the Erection of the Building
for the Exhibition - Also for conducting
the Exhibition with the assistance of a
Boy to distribute the Bills Paste Boards
&c &c 22 weeks £16. 16 the first charge
2d charge for self and Boy 22 weeks at
£1. 5 pr week £27. 10
Paid for Sundries 4 15 9 1803
Feby 4th
Paid Mr Simpson for mounting the 3 10 6
Drawings of Paris 24th
J Girtin for Engraving up 16 of the Plates 6 16
after the aquatinta Nos 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 9
10. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 20 Mar 22d
D.o for Engraving the Inscriptions to 13
the 20 Plates in French and English Apl 4th
To D.o for Editing Designing and 16 16
Engraving the Title and Dedication Plates
For Engraving the Label Plate 10 6 27th
Paid for advertisements in the different 38 11 6
newspapers May 3d
Paid Mr Moore for printing proposals &c 12 2 4
Bills & paper for Do Window Bills &c 11th
Paid Mrs Girtin to Administer 12 12th
Paid Mr Garrard for mounting the 2 13
Sketches sent to Mr Christies also for
taking defective prints of the views of Paris 22th
Mr Lewis for Engraving 60 18 26th
Mr Medland for printing 20 13 June 4th
Lent Mrs Girtin to pay Mr Goodwin 15 15 17
Paid Mr Glanvill 26 Novr 18
D.o Mr Cooke for Hot pressing 2 16 9 1804
Jany 13
Paid Mr Buddle for making the print 10 19 9
Case and painting D.o Feby 24
Paid for sundries 1 13 9 Mar 14
D.o Mr Lepard for paper 29 19 6
Pd for binding 97 proofs 15 Etchings & 19 19
21 Prints, making 133 Sets at 3d pr set
For work done to Stock in hand 13 25th
J. Girtin for Conducting the work of 111 4
views of Paris with assistance for 94
weeks first from June 2.d 1802 to
Septr 29th - with the assistance of a Boy
at 6s pr week, 17 weeks. 2ndly D.o Septr
29.th to aug.1 1803 at £2.2.0. D.o 46 D.o with the use of Shop and
Boy and other occasional assistance
3rdly from Augt 1s to March 25th 1804 at
6s pr week 31 D.o with the use of the
Shop & Boy weeks 94 Apr 14th
Paid Mr Stadler for Engraving and 29 19 printing 20th
D.o Mr Deschamps for the funeral 25 14 8
Paid 934 9 8
Monies to be paid by John Girtin on account of the Picture
April 27th
Mr Barker for Frames 5 8 May 9th
Mr Lepard for paper 16 14
956 11
Mr Wedd 2 5 6
Mr Glanvill 25 6
Mr Andrews 9 3 8
Mr Toussaint 3 4 2
Mr Norman 2 5
1068 19 10
Ditto on account of the Paris work
Mr Stadler 44 16 Mr Whittow 16 7 7 1/2 Mr Harris 1 12 Mr Norman 1 13 9 106 8 21/2 to pay
679 7 6 recd
383 12 4 due to J Girtin
Cr. [Credit]
1799
£ s d Dec 31st
By sundry articles of Household 32 3 6
furniture and other things purchased
of Mr. Thomas Girtin 1802
Received from the Exhibition of
the Picture of London
Week Augt 7th
1 Reced 5 9 14th
2 D.o 6 17 21
3 D.o 7 19 28
4 D.o 6 1 Sept 4th
5 D.o 6 18 11
6 D.o 6 11 18
7 D.o 5 12 25
8 D.o 6 10 Octr 2d
9 D.o 5 11 9
10 D.o 3 5 16
11 D.o 4 10 23
12 D.o 4 16 30
13 D.o 3 16 Novr 6
14 D.o 3 15 9
15 D.o 1 12 20
16 D.o 1 4 26
" Reced of Mr Wright 1 1 27
17th D.o from the Exhibition 3 7 Decr 4th
18th D.o D.o D.o 3 7 11th
19th D.o D.o D.o 2 16
D.o of Mr Duppa 2 2 13th
D.o of Mr Wells 8 8 18th
20week D.o from the Exhibition 4 3 24th
21st D.o from D.o 3 31st
22last D.o D.o D.o 4 8 1803
Jany 19th
Reced of Ld Essex for the
Paris Drawings 50 Feby 21
J Girtin allowed for Sketches 16 16
Reced of Mr Dela motte 12 16
D.o of Mr Cutter 3 18
D.o of Mr Budd 3
D.o of Mr Powell 10 6
Monies reced from the Paris work
Proofs Etch's Prints £ s Apr 9
Reced of Mr Edridge 1 5 5
D.o of Mr Wright 1 6 6
D.o of Dr Monro 1 6 6
D.o of Mr West 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Kershaw 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Hoppner 1 6 6
D.o of Sir Wm Beechy 1 Grey 6 6
D.o of The Honble Miss Broderick 1 6 6
D.o of Sr Hy Englefield 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Thos Raikes 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Worthington 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Mitchelson 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Harman 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Hay 1 6 6
D.o of Sr G. Beaumont 1 6 6
D.o of Mrs Weddell 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Lascelles 1 1 12 12
D.o of Mrs Moore 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Freemantle 2 12 12
D.o of Mr Crowle 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Baker 2 1 18 18
D.o of Mr Glover 1 6 6
D.o of Aldn Hibbert 1 6 6
D.o of Ld Essex 2 1 18 18
D.o of Ld Carrington 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Tomknison 1 6 6
D.o of Messrs Payne &c 1 4 14 6
D.o of Mr Daniel 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Hobson 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Musgrave 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Turner 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Freebairn 1 4 4
D.o of Mr Brown 1 5 5
D.o of Mr Barnard 1 5 5
D.o of Mr Henderson 1 5 5
D.o of Ld Mulgrave 1 6 6
D.o of Mr & Mrs Long 1 1 12 12
D.o of Mrs Hayman 1 6 6
D.o of Lady Lucas 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Henderson 1 2 2
my Brother owing Mr H £4 4s
D.o of Mr Varley 1 4 4
D.o of Mr Garrard - 4 odd
Impressions 9
D.o of Mr Heaviside 1 Grey 6 6
D.o of Mr Samuel 1 5 5
D.o of Mr Ryley 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Hollogan - a spoilt 4
Impression
D.o of Mr Budd 1 5 5
D.o of Mrs Goodwin - 2
18 Impressions
D.o of Mr Wigley - on account 1 1
D.o of Sr Rd Hoare 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Wall 1 4 14 6
D.o of the Revd Mr Hook 1 6 6
D.o of Mr Laporte 1 4 14 6
D.o of Mr Wells 1 5 5
D.o of Mr Porter 1 4 4
D.o of Mr Alexander 1 5
D.o for odd prints 2 11
D.o of Mr Dobree 1 5 5
D.o of Mr Baynes 4 4
D.o of Mr Hakewill 1 5 5
D.o of Messrs Payne & Co 1 4 14 6
D.o of a Gentm 7 odd 2
Impressions
D.o of a Do - - -5 Do 1 1
D.o of Mr Papworth 1 5 5
D.o of Mr Pugin 1 4 4
D.o of Do an odd Etching 2 6
D.o of Mr Cooper 10 Impressions 1 10
D.o of Mr Powell - 6 Grey Do 1 1804
Jany 7
D.o of Mr Wortley 3 spoilt prints 3 Feby 1
D.o of Messrs Norton & Son 1 4 14 6 20
D.o of Mr Molteno 3 11 0 6 21
D.o of Mr Colnaghi 2 1 12 9 6 23
D.o of Mr (Name unknown) 1 4 4 Mar 8th
D.o of Mr Hibbert 1 6 6 13th
D.o of Mr Thompson 1 2 11 15 Ap 26th
D.o of Mr King spoilt set 1 Grey 1 18 6 27th
D.o of Mr Cutter 2 9 9
£679. 7. 6.
The list of subscribers and purchasers provided by John Girtin features a number of the artist’s best-known patrons, headed by George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex (1757–1839), including Edward Lascelles (1764–1814), Sir George Beaumont (1753–1827), and Girtin’s early supporters Dr Thomas Monro (1759–1833) and John Henderson (1764–1843). Other members of the gentry include Thomas Hibbert (1744–1819); Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave (1755–1831); Sir Richard Colt Hoare (1758–1838); and Sir Henry Charles Englefield (1752–1822). Other collectors identified from John Girtin’s list include William Wells (1768–1847) of Redleaf; Thomas Tomkison (c.1764–1853); John Charles Crowle (1738–1811); Sir Charles Long (1760–1838) and Amelia Long (1772–1837); Amabel Hume-Campbell, Lady Lucas (1751–1833); and Elizabeth Weddell (1749–1831).
New Girtin collectors who can be identified with varying degrees of certainty include Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington (1752–1838) (‘Ld Carrington’); Thomas Raikes (1777–1848) (‘Thos Raikes’); Jeremiah Harman (1763–1844) (‘Harman’); Revd James Hook (1772–1828) (‘Revd Mr Hook’); Samuel Dobree (1759–1827) (‘Dobree’); and George Baker (1747–1811) (‘Baker’).
The list of artist subscribers and purchasers is a particularly impressive one and features a number of established men associated with the Royal Academy, including the president Benjamin West (1738–1820) as well as Sir William Beechey (1753–1839), Henry Edridge (1768–1821), Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851), John Hoppner (1758–1810) and George Garrard (1760–1826). The largest group of artist subscribers comes, however, from amongst Girtin’s fellow professional watercolourists and engravers, who pay a discounted price. Names in John Girtin’s list that are likely to be of artists include John Glover (1767–1849) (‘Glover’), Robert Ker Porter (1777–1842) (‘Porter’), George Samuel (active 1785–1823) (‘Samuel’), Thomas Daniell (1749–1840) or more likely William Daniell (1769–1837) (‘Daniel’), Robert Freebairn (1764–1808) (‘Freebairn’), Cornelius Varley (1781–1873) or more likely John Varley (1778–1842) (‘Varley’), John Laporte (1761–1839) (‘Laporte’), Augustus Charles Pugin (1762–1832) (‘Pugin’) and John Buonarotti Papworth (1775–1847) (‘Papworth’).
John Girtin also sold sets of the prints to various dealers, such as ‘Messrs Payne &c’ (Henry Payne, bookseller of Pall Mall), ‘Messrs Norton & Son’ (presumably Richard Norton, printer, stationer and bookbinder of Fitzroy Square), ‘Molteno’ (Anthony Molteno, dealer of 29 Pall Mall) and ‘Colnaghi’ (Paul Colnaghi, printseller of Pall Mall). And it was presumably from them that the three most notable owners of the Paris prints not listed by John Girtin acquired their copies: the king, George III (1738–1820), whose copy now forms part of the King’s Library; a future president of the Royal Academy, Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769–1830); and the noted connoisseur William Beckford (1760–1844).
15 and 16 June 1804
The Morning Chronicle, 15 June 1804
An advertisement announces a sale at the auction house of Charles Farebrother of the ‘Library of Books, beautiful Drawings, Books of Prints, &c. &c. by that justly esteemed and admired Artist, Mr. Dayes, deceased’. No copy of the catalogue of the posthumous sale of Girtin’s master, Edward Dayes (1763–1804), has been traced.
July 1804
Letter from John Sell Cotman (1782–1842) (Holcomb, 1980, p.26)
Sir John Edward Swinburne (1762–1860), Cotman wrote, ‘has one glorious drawing of Girtin’s another very bad’. The former presumably refers to Bamburgh Castle (TG1103) or Dunstanburgh Castle (TG1102).
Late 1804
‘Panorama von London zu Paris’, London und Paris, vol.14 (1804), pp.50–53 (1804 – Item 2)
The details given by this anonymous reviewer offer compelling evidence that Mary Ann Girtin (1781–1843) was successful in her attempt to sell the canvas of the Eidometropolis abroad. Stephan Oettermann was the first to suggest that the anonymous London panorama shown by James Thayer (1763–1835) in Paris between September 1804 and April 1805 was Girtin’s canvas slightly recast (Oettermann, 1997, pp.147–49). If this was indeed the case, the canvas toured Amsterdam and Lyon and made a second appearance in Paris between June 1806 and August 1807.
A Panorama of London in Paris. – Visit to the panorama by Abbé Sicard and his female deaf and dumb pupils.
A little while ago, your correspondent visited the Panorama of London currently displayed in the Boulevard Montmartre. He had already seen a similar representation of this city elsewhere, and was all the more pleased to be able to make a comparison between the two. He first noticed that the earlier panorama appeared to be more successful in its visual deception. This was due to the fact that the amphitheatre in which the spectators stood was smaller, so that one could imagine oneself on the roof of a house. In contrast, the Parisian rotunda had to be made larger in order to accommodate the greater number of visitors. In the former, the illusion was also strengthened by a better relationship between nearer and farther objects, so that one believed one could see real people lounging in a window and walking on a bridge. On the other hand, however, the panorama currently exhibited in Paris is more detailed and precise in the representation of the principal buildings, and is therefore of greater topographical value.
Upon his entrance, your correspondent met with a large group of people, which consisted mainly of young women and filled most of the rotunda. On closer examination he found that this group consisted of the famous Abbé Sicard and his female deaf and dumb pupils. ‘Voila le fameux Sicard’, some of the French visitors whispered to each other, and everyone’s attention was focused on this interesting man and his students. A man specifically employed for that purpose explained the various objects on view to the Abbé who simultaneously passed on this information, in sign language, to his dexterous deaf and dumb companion, Massieu. This latter, a man of quick intelligence, had at any rate been able to make sense of the display with the help of the printed explanation and the plan of London. When the guide’s talk to Sicard and the other listeners had ended, the talented Massieu translated it to the group of deaf and dumb, among whom a lovely girl of 17 attracted everybody’s attention. Her beauty, her innocence and her pitiful predicament won her admiration and compassion. In her black and fiery eyes, all the powers of her soul were concentrated to capture Massieu’s every sign and to see the described objects for herself on the canvas. Admiration and emotion, curiosity and absorption, happiness and wonder, every noble sentiment expressed itself in her features more clearly than through words. She blushed as she became aware of the general interest she had aroused.
The principal point-of-view of this panorama is positioned as if from the glass manufactory on the edge of the suburb at Blackfriars Bridge; from there, that is from the very centre of town, all landmarks can be most happily distinguished. This beautiful bridge, erected from 1760–70, has a length of 995 feet and its central arch is 100 feet wide. The River Thames with its flotilla of differently-sized ships really seems to flow and one almost feels a desire to embark on one of the vessels ashore. The beautiful sky above appears to represent on one half rain and on the other sun-shine. Albion Square with its trees, the Leverian Museum – London’s most complete cabinet of natural curiosities – and a large part of Surrey Street in which people of every age and rank stroll about are very clearly discernible. The greatest attraction for spectators, however, is the magnificent and famous St Paul’s Cathedral with its proud dome and its two leaden towers. It had been built in the form of a long cross and was finished in 1711 under the direction of the great architect Wren. A French lady present remarked ‘C’est tout comme le Pantheon’. From St Paul’s the eye soon turns to the slightly more distant Westminster Abbey, by way of Westminster Bridge which was completed in 1750. Adjacent to the church are the Parliament building and the beautiful Westminster Hall, which measures 270 feet in length, 73 in width and 90 in height and is supported by a single, unbuttressed arch. The coronation of kings usually takes place in this hall, which justifiably counts among Europe’s largest. It is a pity that these noteworthy buildings can only be seen from a distance and thus not entirely clearly. At roughly the same distance to the other side, one can see London Bridge, which in origin is much older than the previous two bridges and has repeatedly burnt down. It is supported by 15 arches and is 915 feet long. Behind the bridge, one perceives the so-called Tower, which was once inhabited by kings and which now, through the addition of many buildings, appears rather as a pleasant village than a fortress. The Tower’s 61 canons traditionally announce public festivities and happy events to the people. It also houses the state archives and crown jewels, the foremost military officials have their apartments there and a large number of wild and exotic beasts are kept for entertainment and instruction alike. Close to Tower Bridge is further the so-called port of London. Other churches and principal buildings are to be seen in similar fashion and are explained in the booklet that is given to spectators free of charge.
No one leaves such a panorama unsatisfied; for who would not enjoy escaping his present location, if only in thought, and dwell in foreign regions?
1797 - 1798
Bamburgh Castle
TG1103
1797 - 1798
Dunstanburgh Castle
TG1102