Autograph narrative, extensively illustrated by Mrs. Kenah, of two journeys in Europe taken by the Kenah couple with friends in 1821-24 and in 1827-29. On the first tour, accompanied by Walter Burrell, MP for Sussex, and "Mrs. Crutchley of Sunning Hill Park....and a Blenheim spaniel," the Kenahs traveled through France, Switzerland, Italy, and Bavaria; they were present in Naples for the 1822 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and spent time in Rome and Lucca as well. In the later tour, they visited the Low Countries, Germany, and Trieste. The text is clearly drawn from diaries kept by Mrs. Kenah during the tours, and contains her often humorous responses, as an "Inexperienced Traveller," to tourist sights, local customs and manners, "foreign" food, and travel difficulties, Mrs. Kenah describes herself as "a woman in quest of the Picturesque," and over 80 of her watercolors and pen and ink sketches are mounted in her travel album. Subjects include "Eruption of Vesuvius, October 22, 1822 as it appeared at midday;" several portraits of Lucchese, Swiss and German figures in local costume; a portrait of Tommaso Sgricci, the famous improvvisatore; a memorial Mass in Caudenberg; the "table d'hote" at the Baths of Ems; the Salon at the Palazzo Ricasoli in 1824; and a variety of "picturesque" landscapes, including a view of the Bay of Naples, of a canal in Venice, and of several castles and mountain scenes in Germany. Also included are several printed views of German scenes which have been hand-colored, and In addition, there are watercolors of English subjects at the end of the volume: cottage scenes, rural landscapes, "view of Box Hill," "Grimsthorpe, 1826," and "Dunkeld from Dr. Fisher's garden. Sept. 9 1826."
Description:
Spine title reads: "Journal. Vol. I.", Annotated on front endpaper: "Mary Leigh Best, 1878.", and Binding: Contemporary calf, red gilt morocco spine label, gilt decoration.
Subject (Geographic):
Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Lucca (Italy), Naples (Italy), and Vesuvius (Italy)
Ethnic costume, Grand tours (Education), Landscape drawing, Travelers' writings, English, Views, Women authors, Women travelers, Description and travel, Social life and customs, and Eruption, 1822
Sketchbook containing 37 watercolors done by Ellis Cornelia Knight while on board Lord Nelson's flagship the Foudroyant with Sir William and Lady Emma Hamilton in 1800. Twenty-six sketches are views taken from the ship off the coast of Sicily, under sail to Malta, and returning from Malta to Palermo. There are also sketches taken in Palermo prior to sailing, and on excursions from the ship near Syracuse. Sketch 2, for example, shows the villa of Prince Ventimiglieri in Palermo; sketch 19 shows an excursion party rowing near Syracuse. There is an index at the back of the volume
Description:
Ellis Cornelia Knight (1757-1837), writer, governess and protégé of Lady Emma Hamilton, whom she broke with after Lady Hamilton's affair with Lord Nelson became public knowledge in England. Knight's works include Dinarbas: A Tale (1790) and Sir Guy de Lusignan (1833)., In English., Inscribed on verso of flyleaf by Knight: "This book was commenced at Palermo in Sicily, 1800. Finished at Windsor, 1806.", and Binding: contemporary full calf; gilt decoration.
Manuscript journal, by a woman, of travel with her husband George from Venice to Rome in the autumn and winter of 1828-29. Topics include sightseeing, excursions to Roman ruins and the Borghese Gardens; social events, including meetings with Sir Humphry Davy, Chateaubriand, and the Neapolitan ambassador; and visits to the opera, the theater, and Mrs. Glasgow's "tableaux." and The author is particularly interested in art and describes visits to several studios, including those of Vincenzo Camuccini, Giovanni Battista Cipriani, Bertel Thorwaldsen, John Gibson, and Richard James Wyatt. She offers critiques of the works she was shown, noting that she did not consider Thorwaldsen's statues for the monument of Pius VII "well-executed" and that she disliked Gibson's "method of staining the marble as Canova used to do with iron rust....we thought it no improvement." She mentions purchases of several prints from Cipriani as well as shopping expeditions for marbles and mosaic pieces
Description:
First few pages cut out., Annotation on front pastedown: "Munich. Octr. 15th, 1828.", and Binding: original marbled boards.
Subject (Geographic):
Italy., Italy, and Rome (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Camuccini, Vincenzo, 1771-1844., Chateaubriand, François-René, vicomte de, 1768-1848., Cipriani, Giovanni Battista, 1766-1839., Davy, Humphry, Sir, 1778-1829., Gibson, John, 1790-1866., Thorvaldsen, Bertel, 1770-1844., and Wyatt, Richard James, 1795-1850.
Subject (Topic):
Tourism, Travelers' writings, English, Women travelers, and Description and travel
Manuscript copies of letters from Denison to her friend "Mary" in Bath, describing the last stages of an extended Continental tour. The first volume begins with the author's description of her family's three month tour of Switzerland, including their encounter with Lady Bute and a visit to the "English Gardens" at Arlesheim. It continues with letters detailing the journey to Naples, via Milan, Florence and Rome. The second volume concerns the Dennison's three months in Naples and their return to England via Mont Cenis and Paris and Throughout her letters, Denison includes information on galleries, churches, and works of art she has viewed. She also discusses the events of daily life; servants; the manners and conversation of other travelers and new acquaintances; social gatherings, balls, and conversazioni; and such matters as the reported outbreak of plague at Noja, a destructive fire at the San Carlo Opera, and the Duke of Wellington's ball at Versailles
Description:
Binding: half morocco with marbled boards.
Subject (Geographic):
France, Italy, Naples (Italy), and Switzerland
Subject (Name):
Denison, Harriet.
Subject (Topic):
Grand tours (Education), Women travelers, Travelers' writings, English, Description and travel, Social conditions, and Social life and customs
Manuscript copies of letters from Denison to her friend "Mary" in Bath, describing the last stages of an extended Continental tour. The first volume begins with the author's description of her family's three month tour of Switzerland, including their encounter with Lady Bute and a visit to the "English Gardens" at Arlesheim. It continues with letters detailing the journey to Naples, via Milan, Florence and Rome. The second volume concerns the Dennison's three months in Naples and their return to England via Mont Cenis and Paris and Throughout her letters, Denison includes information on galleries, churches, and works of art she has viewed. She also discusses the events of daily life; servants; the manners and conversation of other travelers and new acquaintances; social gatherings, balls, and conversazioni; and such matters as the reported outbreak of plague at Noja, a destructive fire at the San Carlo Opera, and the Duke of Wellington's ball at Versailles
Description:
Binding: half morocco with marbled boards.
Subject (Geographic):
France, Italy, Naples (Italy), and Switzerland
Subject (Name):
Denison, Harriet.
Subject (Topic):
Grand tours (Education), Women travelers, Travelers' writings, English, Description and travel, Social conditions, and Social life and customs
Autograph diary of a six-month visit in Rome with "Charlotte and Papa." The author comments on art and architecture, gardens and fountains, and ancient monuments. The author, probably a woman, is interested in Catholic ceremonies and practices and describes the final profession ceremony of a nun, the lying in state and funeral of Cardinal Freschi, the celebration of the Festival of the Conception, Christmas services at St. Peter's, the Roman Carnival, and Papal processions and The author also details social encounters with such figures as Cardinal Antonelli, Sir Charles and Lady Lyell and the sculptor Benjamin Spence
Description:
Binding: contemporary half red morocco with marbled boards and endpapers.
Subject (Geographic):
Italy., Italy, and Rome (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Antonelli, Giacomo, 1806-1876., Lyell, Charles, Sir, 1797-1875., Lyell, Mary., Spence, Benjamin., and Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Customs and practices, Tourism, Travelers' writings, English, Women travelers, Description and travel, Festivals, etc, and Social life and customs