18th Century Engraving - The Shah Goest
Description
The ‘Shah Goest’ was probably a caracal (a medium sized wild cat), which was gifted from the Nawab of Bengal to Robert Clive (1725-1774) the animal then made its way to London as a gift for William Pitt the Elder. Pitt re-gifted it to King George in 1759, who locked it in a cage at the Tower of London. An extract from the ‘Wonderful Magazine’, a periodical founded in 1793, writes of the animal “The keeper was an Indian, and servant to the Nabob of Bengal; when he spoke to it in the Indian language, it would do anything he bade it. A cock coming into the room was seized by the animal and immediately killed it.” Possibly a reprinting or copying an earlier engraving published in a London periodical or similar. The caracal has been hand painted. Unsigned. On laid.Condition
The condition is typical for a picture of this age including some discolouration. The engraving is slightly skewed and a very minor portion of the engraving has been cropped at the upper left edge. The plate line is still visible.
Size
10.8 x 17.1cm (4.3" x 6.7")Sheet: 14.2 x 22cm (5.6" x 8.7")
Code | ph880 |
---|---|
Date | 18th Century |
Dimensions | 10.8 x 17.1cm |
Framed | No |
Medium | Engraving |
Style | Realism |
Subject | Animals |
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