Depiction of the dream of Horace Walpole that inspired him to write The castle of Otranto. The fantastic scene involves a large armored hand perched atop an enormous staircase ascending four levels within a Gothic castle. Two suits of armor stand guard at the junctions of the staircase with each level, and two more are present in the foreground, suggesting that the staircase continues downward. Arched windows and a painting of a mounted knight are seen on the wall to the left of the staircase; a bat is seen flying above
Description:
Title written below image., Signed and dated by the artist in lower left corner of image., Place of production inferred from artist's city of residence during this time period., Page reference for quotation written below title: Page 93., and Bound as page 195 in volume 4 of M.C.D. Borden's extensively extra-illustrated copy of: Horace Walpole and his world / edited by L. B. Seeley ... London : Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday, 1884.
Harding, G. P. (George Perfect), 1780-1853, artist
Published / Created:
[not after 1853]
Call Number:
24 17 791P Copy 5
Collection Title:
Before title page. Castle of Otranto.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
Drawing of an arched niche, surrounded by ornate Gothic tracery, in which several weapons and pieces of armor are arranged. A plumed helmet sits atop the center stack of the arrangement, with an armor chest plate and a round shield below it. Spears and a spiked mace stick out from the left side of the center stack; a variety of axes stick out from the right side
Description:
Title devised by curator., Unsigned; attribution to George Perfect Harding from local catalog card., Date of production based on artist's death date., and Mounted before title page in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. Parma : Printed by Bodoni, for J. Edwards, London, MDCCXCI [1791].
Subject (Name):
Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797.
Subject (Topic):
Armor, Arms & armament, Helmets, Spears, Shields, and Axes
A scene from Horace Walpole's Gothic novel The castle of Otranto, with the servant Bianca shown descending a staircase while looking over her right shoulder, a worried expression on her face. Her gaze is directed at the top of the stairs, where a large hand in armor is seen resting on the banister near the landing of the floor above. The arched opening to the landing is flanked on either side with a display of armor and weapons mounted on the wall. Several arched windows and doorways are seen in the shadowy background
Description:
Title devised by cataloger., Signed and dated by the artist in lower left corner., and Bound in opposite page 217 in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. Parma : Printed by Bodoni, for J. Edwards, London, MDCCXCI [1791].
A scene from Horace Walpole's Gothic novel The castle of Otranto, with the character Matilda shown full-length on the right, wearing a white gown and standing within an arched doorway. Theodore, dressed in full armor and wearing a red sash, kneels down in front of her on the left, staring up at her intently and grasping her hand with both of his. His shield, adorned with a red cross, lies on the ground next to him; mountains and a cloud-filled sky are seen in the distance on the left
Description:
Title devised by curator., Signed by the artist in lower right corner., Date of production based on artist's death date., Page reference written in ink below lower right corner of image: P. 142., and Bound in opposite page 142 in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. Parma : Printed by Bodoni, for J. Edwards, London, MDCCXCI [1791].
A scene from Horace Walpole's Gothic novel The castle of Otranto, with the character Theodore depicted full-length on the right, wearing armor and holding a shield in his left arm, facing left and holding a sword out in front of him. He stands beside the entrance to a cave on the left, the interior of which is shrouded in darkness. Small rocks and a broken tree trunk are in the foreground; tree branches, two birds, and a cloud-filled sky are seen above
Description:
Title devised by cataloger., Signed and dated by the artist in ink in lower right corner., and Tipped in opposite page 120 in an extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. The castle of Otranto. London : Printed for Tho. Lownds in Fleet-Street, MDCCLXV [1765].