Terms and conditions of use
Pamela tells a nursery tale
(1745); published 1762
from a series of twelve illustrations to Pamela by Samuel Richardson, 1745, 2nd edition, published by John Boydell, London, 1762
Medium
engraving
Measurements
26.7 × 35.3 cm (image) 29.7 × 37.3 cm (plate) 31.0 × 40.5 cm irreg. (sheet, trimmed within platemark along top edge)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1921
Gallery location
18th Century Decorative Arts & Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela, published in 1740, tells the story of a maidservant, Pamela Andrews, who resisted the lustful attempts of her young master, Squire B., to seduce her. She eventually converts him to goodness and her virtue is rewarded by a marriage above her status. Richardson’s controversial novel was an unprecedented hit, inspiring numerous offshoots including poems, plays, operas and parodies, such as Henry Fielding’s Shamela. Joseph Highmore took swift advantage of this craze and the expanding market for decorative prints, condensing the verbose story into twelve dramatic snapshots.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
London, England
Inscription
printed in ink l.l.: Jos. Highmore inv. et pinx. / Pamela with her Children and Miʃs Goodwin to whom she is telling her nursery / tales. This last Piece leaves her in full poʃseʃsion of the peaceable fruits of her Virtue / long after having surmounted all of the difficulties It had been exposed to. / Published, according to Act of Parliament. July 1st. (. under st) 1762
printed in ink l.c.: Pamela avec ses enfans et Madselle (. under selle) Goodwin, à qui elle conte des historiettes morales. / Ce dernier tableau la laiʃse en pleine poʃseʃsion des fruites paisibles de sa vertu, long / tems après avoir surmonté toutes les difficultés auxquelles elle avoit été éxposée.
printed in ink l.r.: A. Benoist sculp. / 12.
Accession Number
1119.12-3
Departments
International Prints / International Prints and Drawings
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest
Subjects (general)
Human Figures Literary and Text Relationships and Interactions
Subjects (specific)
children (people by age group) illustrations (layout features) literary characters nursemaids scenes (depictions) storytelling virtue women (female humans)
Movements
Georgian