[Painted by Richard Westall. Engraved by J.P. Simon.]
[n.d. c.1794.]
Stipple engraving, proof before all letters. Image 228 x 161mm. Trimmed inside plate and glued to an album page at edges.
This extremely scarce working proof by Jean Pierre Simon [1750? - c.1810] after Richard Westall R.A. [1765 - 1836] illustrates the fourth book of John Milton's great epic poem 'Paradise Lost'. The half-woman, half serpent figure in the foreground is unfinished, generally lacking depth and tone, with her anatomical features undefined and the hair only a sketchy outline. From 'The Poetical Works of John Milton' published by John and Josiah Boydell in three volumes between 1794 and 1797, in only one edition. It contained four engraved portraits and 28 plates after Westall by among others R. Earlom, T. Kirk, J. Ogborne, B. Smith, as well as J.P. Simon. Westall was an accomplished artist in watercolour who illustrated a number of books, including Boydells' 'Shakespeare', and contributed 5 large scale paintings for the 'Shakespeare Gallery'.
[Ref: 6567]  £450.00