Engraving after Angelica Kauffmann
London: 1780

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Papirius Pratextatus Entreated by his Mother to Disclose the Secrets of the Deliberations of the Roman Senate
Angelica Kauffmann (1741-1807) (after)
Thomas Burke (1749-1815) (engraver)
Papirius Pratextatus Entreated by His Mother to Disclose the Secrets of the Deliberations of the Roman Senate
Wynne Ryland, No.159 Strand, London: Feb. 1, 1780
Sepia-printed aquatint and etching
20.5 x 16 inches, overall
14.5 x 12.5 inches, plate mark
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This engraving, based on a tondo (round painting) by Angelica Kauffmann, illustrates a story involving gender conflicts in ancient Rome. Papirius Pratextatus is being asked by his mother to disclose the secret deliberations of the Roman Senate, which was closed to women. He invents a story to placate her, and the result is explained in the following inscription, which appears on the print below the image, in both English and French:

Papirius Pratextatus entreated by his Mother to disclose the Secrets of the Senate tells her it had been debated whether it would be more useful to the Republic for the Husband to have two Wives, or the Wife two Husbands. The day following the Roman Ladies went to the Senate-house to request the Wives might have two Husbands to the great surprise of Senators. P. Pratextatus being present related the answer he had made his Mother to avoid revealing the business of the State, which ingenious artifice was highly applauded.' Roman Hist.

The original painting is in the Berger Collection of British paintings, which as of 2010 is on loan to the Denver Museum of Art in Colorado. It may be viewed online (see References below).

Angelica Kauffman was a child prodigy who was trained by her father, also a painter. From the age of 16 she traveled through Austria and Italy, assisting him with religious commissions as well as painting portrait commissions of her own. After arriving in London in 1766, she became known for her historical paintings, the most prestigious type of painting during the 18th Century. This engraving is among her historical subjects, which were taken from ancient as well as modern history. Kauffman achieved extraordinary recognition for a female artist of her day, and was one of only two female founding members of the British Royal Academy. She spent the latter part of her life in Italy.

Thomas Burke was an Irish engraver, active in England. After receiving his early training in Ireland, he moved around 1770 to London, where he studied mezzotint-engraving. Most of Burke's mezzotints were engraved after Angelica Kauffman for William Wynne Ryland. In 1775, he switched to the newer technique of stipple engraving, which permits subtle gradations giving more of the appearance of a chalk drawing, which he learned, it is believed, from Ryland. His contemporaries reported that Kauffmann preferred Burke to engrave her designs, and he produced many excellent prints of her work for Ryland. This esteem was shared by other artists of the day, including Francesco Bartolozzi. Burke also engraved work after other prominent artists active in Britain, including George Stubbs and Henry Füseli. Burke generally preferred to work for publishers rather than issue prints himself.

William Wynne Ryland (1732-1783) was a British engraver. Trained in France and Italy, he returned to England, skilled at stipple engraving, a method producing prints that resemble a chalk drawing, and was appointed engraver to the King and Queen of England. After a partnership with another printmaker failed due to poor business practices, he opened his own business on the Strand. While he produced artistic prints like this one, he also turned his considerable talents as an engraver to forging money. In 1783, he was caught, tried and executed.

References:

Heller, Nancy G. Women Artists, An Illustrated History. Abbeville Press: New York, 1987, pp. 52-58.

McCain, Otis E. "William Wynne Ryland." 2001. http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/surnames/r/y/RYLAND/biographies/146 (5 March 2002).

"Papirius Pratextatus Entreated by His Mother to Disclose the Secrets of the Deliberations of the Roman Senate." The Berger Collection Educational Trust. 2008. http://www.bergercollection.org/?id=5&artwork_id=64 (18 June 2010)

"Thomas Burke." The Grove Dictionary of Art. New York: Macmillan. 2000. Online at Artnet.com. http://www.artnet.com/library/01/0124/T012430.asp (6 May 2002).