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G0364
Paintings: G0364
Title
Michael Kelly
Technique
Oil on canvas
Subject
Character
Cymon : Cymon
Artist
Dimensions
Height: 37cm
Width: 29cm
height (frame): 46cm
width (frame): 37cm
Width: 29cm
height (frame): 46cm
width (frame): 37cm
Provenance
John Bell; Leigh & Sotheby's 25 May 1805 (259); Charles Mathews
Other number
Mathews 79
RW/CKA 239
RW/CKA 239
Exhibition history
1833 London, Queen's Bazaar, Oxford Street, "Mr Mathews's Gallery of Theatrical Portraits" (79)
1983 Buxton, Museum and Art Gallery, "Tale Retold. Boccaccio's Decameron 17th Century to 19th Century" (29)
Engraving history
William S. Leney for Bell's British Library 15 August 1795, line 11.1 x 7.6, pub. Bell's “British Theatre” (1797), vol 23
Cymon holds the nosegay enchanted by Merlin and given to him by Sylvia, for whom he has developed a great passion. He has exchanged it for another nosegay given him by Urganda, a wicked fairy and Sylvia's rival. Urganda watches him and thinks he is in ecstacy over her own gift. The line quoted on the engraving is "Oh, the dear, dear Nosegay and the dear, dear giver of it." Cymon's bucolic costume consists of tight blue ankle boots edged in pink, and a pink doublet and breeches, with pale blue sash with a silver fringe, blue cuffs, and blue cloak lined in white.
Garrick's dramatic romance, with music by Thomas Arne, was first performed at Drury Lane on 2 January 1767, with Joseph Vernon as Cymon. Kelly played the part for the first time at the age of 15 in Dublin at the Crow Street Theatre in June 1777. His first London performance in the role was with the Drury Lane company at the King's Theatre, in a revival on 31 December 1791. The piece was played 36 times during that season. Kelly played the role for the last time on 28 January 1793.
Garrick's dramatic romance, with music by Thomas Arne, was first performed at Drury Lane on 2 January 1767, with Joseph Vernon as Cymon. Kelly played the part for the first time at the age of 15 in Dublin at the Crow Street Theatre in June 1777. His first London performance in the role was with the Drury Lane company at the King's Theatre, in a revival on 31 December 1791. The piece was played 36 times during that season. Kelly played the role for the last time on 28 January 1793.
