Concerto Spirituale

Various artists/makers

Not on view

Concerts of religious music were performed regularly at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in the 1770s. Bunbury's name does not appear on this caricature, but he is credited as designer in later variations (17.3.888-222 and 59.533.1738). The viol da gamba player likely represents Carl Friedrich Abel, or possibly Johann Christian Bach. The oboe player has been identified as Johann Christian Fisher, and the French horn player as Giovanni Punto (born Jan Stich). These men came to London from the Continent hoping to take advantage of the patronage of George III–the British king was also prince-elector of Hanover, married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and enjoyed German music.

Concerto Spirituale, James Bretherton (British, active 1750–99), Etching touched with ink

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