Arne, Thomas Augustine. (1710-1778)
1778 Mezzotint Portrait
A large original mezzotint portrait of the English composer, the most significant figure in 18th-century English theatre music. A head and shoulders portrait in oval form, engraved by W. Humphrey after the painting by R. Dunkarton. 41 X 54 cm. Scattered foxing, a few surfaces scratches, mostly outside of the plate, mounted to a heavy backing, overall in fine condition. Harvard Theatre Collection Catalogue of Dramatic Portraits, p. 35, number 5."By 1738 Arne was one of the leaders of musical life in London. That year he was one of the founder-members of the Society (later Royal Society) of Musicians, along with Handel, Boyce and Pepusch. In 1740 he was commissioned to set David Mallet and James Thomson's masque Alfred for performance in an entertainment given by the Prince of Wales in the gardens of Cliefden (Cliveden) House, near Maidenhead. The original work seems to have contained only seven musical numbers (including ‘Rule, Britannia’), although Arne rewrote it a number of times, turning it in 1745 into an all-sung oratorio, and in 1753 into an all-sung opera." (Grove Online) (3173)
Printed Music Song