Forbes, James, 1749-1819, Travels in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, in 1796 and 1797 , 1796-1799
- Title(s):
- Travels in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, in 1796 and 1797 : written for the amusement of an absent daughter.
- Additional Title(s):
- Spine title: Travels in Italy, 1796-1797
- Published/Created:
- 1796-1799.
- Physical Description:
- 2 volumes : illustrations, maps ; 54 cm
- Holdings:
- Rare Books and ManuscriptsFolio A 2023 70Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon CollectionView by request in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details. - Copyright Status:
- Copyright Not Evaluated
- Full Orbis Record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/16891196
- Classification:
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Notes:
- Yale Center for British Art collections include the following volumes from the material previously at Oscott: A voyage from England to Bombay with descriptions in Asia, Africa, and South America, 1765-1800, 13 volumes (Folio A 2023 69); Travels in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, in 1796 and 1797, 1796-1799, 2 volumes (Folio A 2023 70); Views in England, Wales, and Scotland, circa 1787-circa 1819, 3 volumes (Folio A 2023 71); Birds, insects, flowers, and fruits, circa 1788-1817, 1 volume (Folio A 2023 72); Collection of British portraits, circa 1700-1817, 3 volumes (Folio A 2023 73).
The James Forbes Fonds at McGill Library (onds MSG 276) include another fair copy of these diaries, in five volumes (without illustrations). The McGill diaries further cover the dates June 16-August 30, 1796, and February 28, 1797, but lack December 24-February 2.
Provenance: Elizabeth Rosée, comtesse de Montalembert (née Forbes); Charles Forbes, comte de Montalembert; St. Mary's College, Oscott, Birmingham; Sotheby's, 7 Nov. 1966 (lot 275); C. de Amenschild; Paul Mellon.
Bound in contemporary gilt morocco, as presented to Oscott; rebacked.
Manuscript diary describing the travels of James Forbes, primarily in Italy, as part of a larger Grand Tour of Germany, Italy, and Switzerland in 1796 and 1797. The fair copy text is illustrated with 75 drawings (most with wash), seven manuscript maps, 18 engravings, and five vignettes. The diary begins on August 31, 1796, as Forbes departs Vienna for Trieste. Forbes makes extended stays at Venice, Rome, Naples, and Florence. Entries include descriptions of local scenery, antiquities, art, and inhabitants. Many entries are accompanied by excerpts of 18th-century texts related to given locations. In Rome, Forbes especially enjoys the company of Ellis Cornelia Knight. Her writings and drawings accompany some of the entries. Volume 2 concludes with an "Addenda in 1799," in which Forbes rues Napoleon's invasion of Italy and the removal of Italian art to Paris.
The two volumes were part of "The Forbes Collection" (in 50 volumes) in the library of St. Mary's College, Oscott. The collection was presented to Oscott by Charles Forbes, comte de Montalembert, upon the death of his mother, Eliza Rosée, the "absent daughter" named on the manuscript title page. At Oscott, and in the Sotheby's sale in 1966 (lot 275), the present diary occupied 14 volumes, containing 255 watercolors, 80 wash drawings, and 340 engravings. When it was sold again, in 1973, it had been condensed to two volumes. In this condensed version, almost all of the text appears to be retained, along with most of the wash drawings. Most of the watercolor drawings and engravings were removed. - Subject Terms:
- Austria -- Description and travel.Florence -- Description and travel.Forbes, James, 1749-1819 -- Travel.Forbes, James, 1749-1819.Forbes, James, 1749-1819. Descriptive letters and drawings.Grand tours (Education)Italy -- Description and travel.Knight, Ellis Cornelia, 1757-1837.Montalembert, Charles Forbes, comte de, 1810-1870 -- Ownership.Montalembert, Eliza Rosée, comtesse de, -1839 -- Ownership.Montalembert, Eliza Rosée, comtesse de, -1839.Naples -- Description and travel.Oscott College -- Ownership.Rome -- Description and travel.Venice -- Description and travel.
- Form/Genre:
- Diaries.
Travel literature.
Travel sketches.
Drawings.
Watercolors (visual works)
Manuscript maps. - Export:
- XML