Volume 1

Microcosm of London / [Anon].

Date:
[1808-1811]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Microcosm of London / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/248 page 5
    The princes of the house of Hanover had many virtues of a description that adorn and dignify human nature. George II. was a gentleman of high honour and undeviating integrity; but he possessed no portion of taste for the fine arts, the professors of which.were very coldly considered during, his reign. The accession of his present majesty displayed a very different scene, and those who had talents found now a sovereign who had taste to discern and appreciate them, and sought every opportunity of affording them countenance and pro- tection. In the year 1774, old Somerset Place was purchased of the crown, and an act of parliament passed for embanking the river Thames before Somerset House, and for building upon its scite various public offices, &c. The part of the building appropriated to the artists, is the object of our present enquiry. The room on the ground-floor is allotted to models of statues, plans, elevations, and drawings.. The coved ceiling of the library was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Cipriani. The center is by Sir Joshua, and represents the Theory of the Art, under the form of an elegant and majestic female, seated on the clouds and looking upwards: she holds in one hand a compass, in the other a label, on which is written. Theory is the knowledge of xvhat is truly nature. The four compartments in the coves of the ceiling are by Cipriani, and represent Nature, History, Allegory, and Fable. These are well imagined, and sufficiently explain themselves.
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