Richard Blome (English, 1635-1705)

Three (3) reproductions from The Gentleman's Recreations: In Three Parts

Lithograph print

9 1/2 x 15 in., framed and matted to 14 1/2 x 20 1/2 in. 

Three prints from Richard Blome's The Gentleman's Recreations: In Three Parts (London, 2nd ed., 1710). Each show a different activity or chart pertaining to one of the common recreational hobbies in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Prints include: 

1. "Angling." Chapter vignette on page 228 of Book 2, Party V. This illustration shows men at a river fishing in the foreground. Another man next to the center two is collecting the fish in a basket. In the background are two men talking with another who appears to be raking the ground, perhaps after burying the fish. 

2. "Fishing & Angling." Chapter opener on page 223 of Book 2, Part V. This chart serves as a visual table of contents for the chapter on fishing. From the bubble titled "Fishing" on the left side, it branches into all the different components of fishing and the chapter. Surrounding the chart are different kinds of fish, no doubt ones that could be commonly caught by Englishmen. 

3. "Fowling." Chapter opener on page 165 of Book 2, Part IV. Like the "Fishing & Angling" chart, this one follows the same pattern, this time for fowling, or hunting game birds. In the top left corner, Blome left the following dedication: "To the most noble Prince Henry / Duke of Norfolk, Earle Marshall of / England, Earle of Arundell, Warren / Surrey, Norfolk & Norwich, / Baron Howard, Mowbray &c. / Cheife of ye illustrious / family of ye Howards / Lord Lieutenant of ye / Counties of Norfolk, / Surrey & Berks, / Counstable & / Gouerner of / Windsor / Castle &c. / This Plate / is humbly / dedicated / by Ric / Blome." 

Blome was an English illustrator, engraver, publisher, and cartographer. Both he and his father were members of the London Stationers' Company, however, Blome distinguished himself as early as 1663 by producing engravings of travel narratives and atlases based on French cartographers. While Blome likely created the first wholly engraved and printed English published folio atlas, he received judgment for basing much of the atlas on earlier works. Although he continued cartographic pursuits, he pivoted to illustrations that a wider audience could appreciate, like The Gentleman's Recreations, first published in 1686. 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Art, Folk Art, Military Art, Etching, Engraving, Lithographs, Prints, Ephemera] [Sporting, Hunting, Fowling, Fishing, Outdoors, Outdoor Recreation] 

Some frames are broken, one frame is falling apart.