Hogarth, William (1697 London 1764). The Good Samaritan. Caring for the victim left by the robbers. Behind of this the vanity symbol of the broken, almost dead tree growing just a sparse little branch anymore. Affixed to it the Samaritan’s horse bridled with long blanket and leopard skin. On the left priest with believer on his knees as well as Levite with scroll who both had ignored the victim. Engraving by Thomas Cook (c. 1744 – London 1818). Inscribed: Willm. Hogarth Pinxit. / Thos. Cook sculpt. / Engraved from the Original Picture; Painted by William Hogarth Esq^r. / on the Stair Case in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital … / Publish’d Aug^t. 1-1803. by G. & I. Robinson, Paternoster row, otherwise as before and below. 46.6 x 56 cm.

The fine pendant to “The Pool of Bethesda” on the stair case there, too. And inside the 6 cm text field below folded alongside of the picture illustrated with a charming and explained scenery :

“ The Foundation Stone of this Hospital was laid by Raphere Prior of the Order of St. Augustin in the II Year of the Reigh Henry I. MCII in persuance of a Vow made to St. Bartholomew. ”

Marvellous impression of shining chiaroscuro. – Trimmed on platemark. The small white margins upper and right with small tears and damages. Verso light foxing, but practically without traces on the picture side. – Cook “also made a name for himself as Hogarth engraver” (Thieme-Becker) and whose original format he maintained contrary to all later Hogarth editions in his first, earlier edition. For some sheets not published by Hogarth himself Cook became their first engraver, just as he also gained approval of a contemporary connoisseur as Maximilian Speck von Sternburg.
Offer no. 15,253 / EUR  590. / Export price EUR  561. (c. US$ 901.) + shipping

– – – The same. Engraving by Simon François Ravenet (Paris 1706/21 – London 1774) + Jean Marie Delat(t)re (Abbeville ca. 1742/45 – Fulham, London, 1840). Inscribed in the plate: Willm. Hogarth pinxit. / Ravenet & Delatre sculpserunt / Engraved from the Original Picture Painted by William Hogarth Esqr. on the Stair Case in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital … / Published Febr. 24^th. 1772 by John Boydell Engraver in Cheapside London., title as above. 48.2 x 56.7 cm.

Nagler, Ravenet (“one of the most excellent artists of his time”), 28 + Thieme-Becker, Delattre, VIII, 596. – Impression on especially strong paper from the plate restored by the royal engraver James Heath (1757 London 1834) about 1822 (“Even these impressions have become relatively rare today”, Art Gallery Esslingen, 1970).
Offer no. 15,258 / EUR  430. / Export price EUR  409. (c. US$ 657.) + shipping

– – – The same in Cook’s smaller version. Inscribed: Hogarth pinxt. / T. Cook sculpt. / Published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, May 1^st. 1809., title as before. Image size 13.4 x 17.3 cm.

The fine motif without the scenery of the laying the corner-stone ceremony for the St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the large versions placed within the text field. – Trimmed within the wide white platemark. – Fine impression.
Offer no. 15,259 / EUR  190. (c. US$ 305.) + shipping

“ … I was digging and I found you. I needed to tell you that your collection for whatever reason has brought tears to my eyes. Thank you … I’m not a collector, or I haven’t known myself to be … I was going to sell this (sheet), but I just may have discovered that I’m to keep this for whatever reason. Have you made a collector out of me … For all your devotion, hardwork … I thank you ”

(Mrs. D. H., June 17, 2002)