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 Re: Stukeley’s assistant? 18 messages | Select a forum: |
Littlestone wrote: VBB wrote: Littlestone wrote: In Plate 10 here of Stukeley’s Abury - A Temple of the British Druids Stukeley? (with hat on and pointing with a stick) seems to be giving instructions to a seated figure who’s drawing one of the megaliths. Stukeley with hat and stick appears in quite a few of his drawings (the one of him of 1723 from the Sanctuary, with Silbury in the background for example) and another of him at the Cove with someone holding something. Yet another showing a figure on one knee pointing at something. Although I’d always assumed Stukeley did his own drawings perhaps he had an assistant who accompanied him on his trips to Avebury, Stonehenge etc to do them for him. Sorry if that’s already a recognized fact (that he had an assistant) but it hadn’t crossed my mind before... Stukeley is striking the gesticulating pose, Gerard Vandergucht is sat on a recumbent stone drawing, John Pine arms outstretched. The drawing from the cove shows Stukeley with Roger Gale. Very interesting VBB – thank you. What do you think of the original question though (did Stukeley do the drawings himself or did someone else do them for him?). The fact that Vandergucht is sat on a stone drawing, while Stukeley is gesticulating, seems to suggest the latter (that Stukeley didn’t do the drawings). Interesting stuff! Stukeley produced original drawings, and Vandergucht produced some of Stukeley's engravings, so might the latter not in addition to making his own sketches be refining and making notes? Stukeley's figures weren't always top notch so given your own training and expertise there are questions beyond this layer for you to ponder and as with all things Stukeley it is unlikely to be a straightforward matter. Are the portraits in Abury of Horshall and Robinson originally by Stukeley or copied by him from Vandergucht's sketches? There is a Vandergucht original of Reuben Horshall dated 29 July 1722, and there is a drawing of Richard Fowler by Stukeley titled "Stone killer of Beckhampton Avenue", another of Thomas Robinson titled "Alburiae Depopulator", and another of his wife by Vandergucht (his wife features in that image of Robinson in Abury BTW – not very flattering!) - given that Stukeley's original of (a nice!!!) Robinson in the Bodleian dated 26 July 1722 is in print (and given that image in the NPG) a comparison of styles would add greatly to our knowledge. Fancy seeking those portraits out and giving it a go? Reply | with quote |  10th September 2012ce 16:18 In reply to: Re: Stukeley’s assistant? (Littlestone) |
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