Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Agreement between John Trumbull, William Sharp and Anthony Poggi to engrave and publish a print of “The Sortie made by the Garrison at Gibraltar"

August 8, 1789
Not on view
This contract relates to the making of an engraving after a painting in the Museum's collection, John Trumbull's "The Sortie made by the Garrison at Gibraltar in 1781," oil on canvas, 1789 (1976.333). It sheds light on how large reproductive engravings were financed, produced, and published in late eighteenth-century London, outlining the responsibilities of painter, engraver, print-seller, and treasurer, with much attention given to financial matters. By August 1789, Trumbull had raised nearly four hundred pounds from subscribers, and it had been agreed that the engraver, William Sharp, would eventually receive 1,200 guineas for his work. He agreed to finish work on the plate within four years although, in the end, the related print (2006.265) would not be published until 1799. The delay likely influenced by the French Revolutionary War, which Britain joined in 1792

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Agreement between John Trumbull, William Sharp and Anthony Poggi to engrave and publish a print of “The Sortie made by the Garrison at Gibraltar"
  • Inscriber: Signed by John Trumbull (American, Lebanon, Connecticut 1756–1843 New York)
  • Inscriber: Signed by William Sharp (British, London 1749–1824 London)
  • Inscriber: Signed by Antonio Cesare Poggi (Italian, Florence 1744–1836 Paris)
  • Inscriber: Signed by John Hogarth (British, active 1789)
  • Inscriber: SIgned by George Baker (British, 1747–1811)
  • Date: August 8, 1789
  • Medium: Brown pen and ink on laid paper
  • Dimensions: Sheet (folded in half): 20 7/8 × 14 11/16 in. (53 × 37.3 cm)
    Sheet (open): 20 7/8 × 29 5/16 in. (53 × 74.5 cm)
  • Classification: Documents
  • Credit Line: Gift of the Fairfield Museum and History Center, Fairfield, CT, 2026
  • Object Number: 2026.272
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Alexander Hamilton, John Trumbull American, Oil on canvas, American
Alexander Hamilton
John Trumbull
1804–6
Gamba Bow, Wood, British
Gamba Bow
British
first half 18th century
Portrait of Nicolas Trigault in Chinese Costume, Peter Paul Rubens Flemish, Black, red, and white chalk, blue pastel, and pen and brown and black ink on light brown laid paper
Portrait of Nicolas Trigault in Chinese Costume
Peter Paul Rubens
1617
The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, John Trumbull American, Oil on canvas, American
The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar
John Trumbull
1789
Alto Recorder, Joseph Bradbury British, Wood, ivory, British
Alto Recorder
Joseph Bradbury
ca. 1700

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.