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Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

More of Werter - the seperation / designed by Collings ; etch'd by Rowlandson.

Thomas Rowlandson
1756-1827

More of Werter - the seperation / designed by Collings ; etch'd by Rowlandson.

Published

[London] : Pubd. 6 May 1786 by E. Jackson Marylebone Street Golden Square, [1786]

etching
image: 209 x 301 mm; sheet: 239 x 318 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2523
Notes
Title from item.
A satire on Frederick Reynolds's tragedy, 'Werter', a theatrical adaptation of Goethe's "Leiden des jungen Werthers."
Below caption title: Charlotte preserved from destruction by Albert and Hymen whilst Werter in the excess of frenzy puts an end to his existance.
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.
Provenance

Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.

Summary

Werter (left) crouches on the edge of a precipice in a wild frenzy, a pistol in each hand. His hair rises on his head, his hat flies off, his coat is violently blown towards the abyss. A small demon, holding up writhing serpents, pours the contents of a phial on his head, over which a winged skull hovers; a serpent stings him. Hymen, holding Charlotte (right) by a chain attached to her waist, urges her into the arms of Albert, who stands behind, clutching his head. Hymen, a winged and naked youth, holds his torch reversed, directing clouds of smoke upon Werter, which seem to drive him towards the abyss. Charlotte and Albert are irradiated; Charlotte is frantic with grief, a garter inscribed 'Werter' trails below her petticoat. Papers fly into the air, two being inscribed 'Werter'. Cf. British Museum online catalog.

Associated names
Collings, Samuel, artist.
Jackson, E. (Elizabeth), publisher.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Classification
Department
Century prints