The Adventure Of Hunch-Back, And The Stories Connected With It, (From The Arabian Nights Entertainments.) with illustrative Prints, Engraved By William Daniell, From Pictures Painted By Robert Smirke, R.A.

RA Collection: Book

Record number

04/1690

Variant Title

History Of Little Hunch-Back

Imprint

London:: Printed For William Daniell, Cleveland Street, Fitzroy Square. By Thomas Davison, Whitefriars., 1814.

Physical Description

[2], 99, [1] p., [17] pl.; 414 mm. (Folio).

General Note

Each plate has been tipped in.

[T.p.] - [Pl.] - [Text] - [colophon].

Responsibility Note

The translator's name is not given.

The names of the source artist and the engraver are engraved on each plate: 'R. Smirke R.A. pinx^t. W. Daniell sculp^t.'

Each plate carries the publication-line, 'Published by William Daniell, London, June 1, 1814.'

The printer's name is repeated in the colophon.

References

K. Kobayashi, 'Illustrations to the Arabian Nights', in The Arabian Nights encyclopedia, comp. U. Marzolph (2004); The Arabian Nights in English literature, ed. P.L. Caracciolo (1988).

T. Sutton, The Daniells: artists and travellers (1954), p.179, no.51.

Summary Note

The caption title reads, 'The History Of Little Hunch-Back'.

The plates are aquatint etchings.

The plates show the following episodes (as described in their engraved captions): Hunch-Back & The Tailor; The Supper; The Jewish Physician; The Purveyor; The Christian Merchant; From The Merchants Story; From The Purveyors Story; From The Physicians Story; From The Tailors Story; The Officious Barber; Bacbouc, The Barbers First Brother; Bacbarah, The Barbers Second Brother; Backbac, The Barbers Third Brother; Alcouz, The Barbers Fourth Brother; Alnaschar, The Barbers Fifth Brother; Schacabac, The Barbers Sixth Brother; The Recovery Of Hunchback.

The illustrator, Robert Smirke, had become a Member of the Royal Academy in 1793. He liked painting literary subjects, and was a prolific book-illustrator (Hume's History of England and the Boydell Shakespear are among his best-known works). He had published illustrations for the Arabian Nights in 1802 and 1810, and would do so again in 1839. In 1818 he illustrated Cervantes's Don Quixote - returning to the theme on which he had painted his Royal Academy diploma work in 1793.

The engraver, William Daniell, was best-known for the eight-volume Oriental scenery (1795-1808) which he and his uncle, Thomas Daniell, published on their return from India, and for the paintings of India which they exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. In the same year as The Adventure of Hunch-back was published, William began to issue A Picturesque voyage round Great Britain (1814-25). In 1822 he became a Member of the Royal Academy (Thomas had become an Academician in 1799).

Provenance

Acquired by the Academy before

Binding Note

19th-century half morocco, marbled-papered boards; rebacked and recornered in 20th century, black morocco spine-label lettered 'Illustrations Of Hunch-Back - Robert Smirke, R.A.'

Subject

Arab countries - Middle East - Social life and customs
Fiction - Tales - Fairy tales - Arabic literature - Folk literature, Arabic
Fiction - Tales - Fairy tales - Translations into English - Translations from Arabic - Great Britain - 19th century
Illustrated books - Pictorial works - Aquatints - Great Britain - 19th century