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A Manuscript Notebook by T. H. Cromek in Different Styles of Hand, dates not examined

1 folder
Collection Creator:
Cromek, Thomas Hartley (1809-1873)
Dates:
dates not examined
Located In:
Box 1, Folder 3
Extent:
1 folder
Languages:
English
Scope and Contents

Approximately 150 pages. Foolscap, half roan, marbled boards, spine worn and boards detached. The first section to page 75 is dated 16 October 1851.

The piece of greatest interest in the notebook is an account of the origins of Stothard's Canterbury Pilgrims (pages 127-137). Headed"Stothard's opinion of Beauty," it discusses Stothard's aesthetics, his initial lack of popularity, the origins of painting, the story of the engraving, Cromek's financial dealings with Stothard and Stothard's letter to Mrs Cromek after her husband's death. Stothard's Canterbury Pilgrims owe their existence to the late Mr Cromek...I first saw the picture at his house, soon after it had returned from Liverpool and Manchester, and other large towns, where it had been exhibited...The celebrated Schiavonetti commenced the engraving of it. He proceeded as far as the sketching, which as all the drawing in this plate depends on it, was a happy circumstance. Stothard spoke in the highest terms of that etching; the Italian artist had preserved all the spirit of the original; but he did not live to go beyond this delicate and introductory part of the task...the plate was beautifully finished by Heath; it became a universal favourite; while the fame of Stothard spread rapidly throughout the country. The engraving was brought out by subscription, it had altogether the most extensive sale of anything of kind published within the last hundred years; and the picture itself, which ultimately was productive of such golden profit, and in so many ways, was sold (so it has been stated in a letter by Stothard) by Mr Cromek for three hundred pounds, to the late Mr Hart Davis, of Bath; but Mr Alfred Stothard says the sum paid for it by the latter was five hundred pounds." Much detail follows relating to a dispute between Stothard's son and Cromek about how much RHC paid for the original. Alfred Stothard states that is was only £60. THC quotes a long letter from Stothard mentioning Mrs Cromek's sale of Blair's Grave for £130 and the finances surrounding The Pilgrimage. THC concludes saying that his father died in very narrow circumstances and that his widow was not in a position to pay Stothard as much as she would have liked.

The volume also contains extensive extracts for works on subjects including the Scriptures, Hebrew character, the Apocalypse ("from the Catholic version of the New Testament. Rheims. 1582"), a conversation between Edmund Burke and Dr. Gibson in 1790, other religious tracts and histories including"Dr. Pusey's perversions of the Spiritual Combat" (THC became a convert to Roman Catholicism in 1836.)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Credit this material:

A Manuscript Notebook by T. H. Cromek in Different Styles of Hand; Robert and Thomas Hartley Cromek papers, C1313, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (mss): Box 1
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by John Delaney on April 6, 2009. Finding aid coded by John Delaney on April 7-8, 2009, based on the descriptions of John Hart and Chris Johnson.

Custodial History

By descent from T. H. Cromek. T. H. Cromek's daughter married John Warrington of Newland Hall, Wakefield. He was the father of Austin Warrington, whose son Paul Warrington inherited the Cromek archive and left the archive on his death to his wife, Jeanne Warrington, in 1992, who in turn left the archive to R. H. Cromek's great-great-great grandson Ian Warrington on her death in 2007, who sold the archive at Sothebys London in July 2008.

Collection Overview

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Approximately 150 pages. Foolscap, half roan, marbled boards, spine worn and boards detached. The first section to page 75 is dated 16 October 1851.

The piece of greatest interest in the notebook is an account of the origins of Stothard's Canterbury Pilgrims (pages 127-137). Headed"Stothard's opinion of Beauty," it discusses Stothard's aesthetics, his initial lack of popularity, the origins of painting, the story of the engraving, Cromek's financial dealings with Stothard and Stothard's letter to Mrs Cromek after her husband's death. Stothard's Canterbury Pilgrims owe their existence to the late Mr Cromek...I first saw the picture at his house, soon after it had returned from Liverpool and Manchester, and other large towns, where it had been exhibited...The celebrated Schiavonetti commenced the engraving of it. He proceeded as far as the sketching, which as all the drawing in this plate depends on it, was a happy circumstance. Stothard spoke in the highest terms of that etching; the Italian artist had preserved all the spirit of the original; but he did not live to go beyond this delicate and introductory part of the task...the plate was beautifully finished by Heath; it became a universal favourite; while the fame of Stothard spread rapidly throughout the country. The engraving was brought out by subscription, it had altogether the most extensive sale of anything of kind published within the last hundred years; and the picture itself, which ultimately was productive of such golden profit, and in so many ways, was sold (so it has been stated in a letter by Stothard) by Mr Cromek for three hundred pounds, to the late Mr Hart Davis, of Bath; but Mr Alfred Stothard says the sum paid for it by the latter was five hundred pounds." Much detail follows relating to a dispute between Stothard's son and Cromek about how much RHC paid for the original. Alfred Stothard states that is was only £60. THC quotes a long letter from Stothard mentioning Mrs Cromek's sale of Blair's Grave for £130 and the finances surrounding The Pilgrimage. THC concludes saying that his father died in very narrow circumstances and that his widow was not in a position to pay Stothard as much as she would have liked.

The volume also contains extensive extracts for works on subjects including the Scriptures, Hebrew character, the Apocalypse ("from the Catholic version of the New Testament. Rheims. 1582"), a conversation between Edmund Burke and Dr. Gibson in 1790, other religious tracts and histories including"Dr. Pusey's perversions of the Spiritual Combat" (THC became a convert to Roman Catholicism in 1836.)

Collection History

Custodial History

By descent from T. H. Cromek. T. H. Cromek's daughter married John Warrington of Newland Hall, Wakefield. He was the father of Austin Warrington, whose son Paul Warrington inherited the Cromek archive and left the archive on his death to his wife, Jeanne Warrington, in 1992, who in turn left the archive to R. H. Cromek's great-great-great grandson Ian Warrington on her death in 2007, who sold the archive at Sothebys London in July 2008.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by John Delaney on April 6, 2009. Finding aid coded by John Delaney on April 7-8, 2009, based on the descriptions of John Hart and Chris Johnson.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

A Manuscript Notebook by T. H. Cromek in Different Styles of Hand; Robert and Thomas Hartley Cromek papers, C1313, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
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Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (mss): Box 1

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Bibliography

See Dennis M. Read's R. H. Cromek, Engraver, Editor, and Entrepreneur (Ashgate, 2011) for more information about Cromek and these papers.

Names:
Bewick, Thomas (1753-1828)
Cromek, R. H. (Robert Hartley) (1770-1812)
Pye, John (1782-1874)