Communications

WANN Microphone

Tools of communication have transformed American society time and again over the past two centuries. The Museum has preserved many instruments of these changes, from printing presses to personal digital assistants.

The collections include hundreds of artifacts from the printing trade and related fields, including papermaking equipment, wood and metal type collections, bookbinding tools, and typesetting machines. Benjamin Franklin is said to have used one of the printing presses in the collection in 1726.

More than 7,000 objects chart the evolution of electronic communications, including the original telegraph of Samuel Morse and Alexander Graham Bell's early telephones. Radios, televisions, tape recorders, and the tools of the computer age are part of the collections, along with wireless phones and a satellite tracking system.

Resource Type: Engravings (prints)

A Lioness and Two Lions

Engraving with etching after painting formerly attributed to Peter Paul Rubens once in the Gallery at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, attributed to the school of Frans Snyders, as A Lioness and Two Lions.
Description
Engraving with etching after painting formerly attributed to Peter Paul Rubens once in the Gallery at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, attributed to the school of Frans Snyders, as A Lioness and Two Lions. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2. Marsh probably wrote the numeral 37 in pencil in the lower left margin.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1782
engraver
Walker, William
artist attribution
Rubens, Peter Paul
publisher
Boydell, John
delineator
Earlom, Richard
artist attribution
Snyders, Frans
ID Number
1978.0534.03.39
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.39

A Hunting Piece

Engraving after painting by John Wootton once in the Hunting Hall at Houghton. Originally in the Hermitage Palace, later in the Gatchina Palace; disappeared during World War II. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol.
Description
Engraving after painting by John Wootton once in the Hunting Hall at Houghton. Originally in the Hermitage Palace, later in the Gatchina Palace; disappeared during World War II. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1778
engraver
Lerpiniere, Daniel
original artist
Wootton, John
publisher
Boydell, John
ID Number
1978.0534.02.87
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.87

Venus Bathing and Cupids

Line engraving after original painting attributed to Andrea Sacchi once in the Common Parlour at Houghton. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.Currently not on view
Description
Line engraving after original painting attributed to Andrea Sacchi once in the Common Parlour at Houghton. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1775
delineator
Farington, Joseph
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Mason, James
artist attribution
Sacchi, Andrea
ID Number
1978.0534.02.48
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.48

Holy Family with Saint Anne and two angels

Line engraving. Trimmed inside plate mark; mounted on manilla sheet within ink-ruled border. Four lines of Latin verse in lower margin signed F. Valerini.
Description
Line engraving. Trimmed inside plate mark; mounted on manilla sheet within ink-ruled border. Four lines of Latin verse in lower margin signed F. Valerini. Later edition of 1593 imprint [?] published by Sadeler in Venice.
Marsh Collection; sent to Corcoran Gallery in 1874 and returned to SI in 1896. Oval embossed stamp, SI Secretary's Library.
See Hollstein 79.
Location
Currently not on view
original artist
Aachen, Hans von
maker
Sadeler II, Aegidius
ID Number
1978.0534.51
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.51

Europa

Line engraving from original painting by Paul Bril once in the Gallery at Houghton. Now in Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow. Also known as Landscape with Nymphs at Rest. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Description
Line engraving from original painting by Paul Bril once in the Gallery at Houghton. Now in Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow. Also known as Landscape with Nymphs at Rest. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1. The figures in Bril's painting are attributed to Domenichino; the figures were engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi. Joseph Farington delineated the painting for the engravers to follow, and John Browne engraved the landscape.
date made
1776
engraver
Browne, John
delineator
Farington, Joseph
publisher
Boydell, John
original artist
Bril, Paul
engraver
Bartolozzi, Francesco
ID Number
1978.0534.02.41
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.41

Africa

Line engraving from original painting by Paul Bril once in the Gallery at Houghton, Now in State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, and attributed to the circle of Paul Bril. Also known as Landscape with Exotic Beasts. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P.
Description
Line engraving from original painting by Paul Bril once in the Gallery at Houghton, Now in State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, and attributed to the circle of Paul Bril. Also known as Landscape with Exotic Beasts. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
date made
1775
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Browne, John
delineator
Farington, Joseph
artist attribution
Bril, Paul
ID Number
1978.0534.02.42
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.42

Venus Sleeping

Stipple engraving after painting formerly attributed to Annibale Carracci once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg as Sleeping Venus from the circle of Carracci. Print removed from George P.
Description
Stipple engraving after painting formerly attributed to Annibale Carracci once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg as Sleeping Venus from the circle of Carracci. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1785
maker
Carracci
artist attribution
Carracci, Annibale
engraver
Bartolozzi, Francesco
publisher
Boydell, John
ID Number
1978.0534.03.67
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.67

The Fisherman

Engraving after original painting by Gaspard Dughet [called Poussin] once in the Gallery at Houghton. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, with descriptive title Landscape with a Fisherman. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P.
Description
Engraving after original painting by Gaspard Dughet [called Poussin] once in the Gallery at Houghton. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, with descriptive title Landscape with a Fisherman. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
The painter Gaspard Dughet took the name Poussin after the French artist Nicolas Poussin, his mentor and the husband of his sister.
date made
1775
original artist
Dughet, Gaspard
delineator
Farington, Joseph
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Mason, James
ID Number
1978.0534.02.51
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.51

Portrait of a young man

Engraving after painting by Frans Hals once in the Common Parlour at Houghton. Sent to the Hermitage Palace; sold to Andrew Mellon in 1930 and now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Description
Engraving after painting by Frans Hals once in the Common Parlour at Houghton. Sent to the Hermitage Palace; sold to Andrew Mellon in 1930 and now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1. Once considered a self-portrait of the Dutch artist; sitter not identified.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1777
original artist
Hals, Frans
engraver
Michel, Jean Baptiste
delineator
Farington, George
publisher
Boydell, John
ID Number
1978.0534.02.70
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.70

Seashore with figures

Engraving after painting attributed to Jacques Courtois (called Bourgogne or Bourguignon) or possibly his pupil Pandolfo Reschi, once in the Cabinet at Houghton. Current location unknown. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Description
Engraving after painting attributed to Jacques Courtois (called Bourgogne or Bourguignon) or possibly his pupil Pandolfo Reschi, once in the Cabinet at Houghton. Current location unknown. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1. Print titled Banditti; painting now known as View of the Seashore. Paired with print titled Mendicants/ Landscape with figures.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1777
engraver
Peake, James
ID Number
1978.0534.02.67
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.67

Untitled landscape

Engraving after painting by John Wootton once in the Little Dressing Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. The painting does not seem to have been included in the sale to Catherine II of Russia, although it was engraved for the volume of prints.
Description
Engraving after painting by John Wootton once in the Little Dressing Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. The painting does not seem to have been included in the sale to Catherine II of Russia, although it was engraved for the volume of prints. Present location of the painting is unknown, but it may be one of three overdoor paintings still in situ at Houghton Hall. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1784
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Lerpiniere, Daniel
original artist
Wootton, John
ID Number
1978.0534.03.42
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.42

Dutch emblem print

Engraving from a Dutch emblem book of the 1630s, possibly engraved by Cornelis Cort or one of his circle.
Description
Engraving from a Dutch emblem book of the 1630s, possibly engraved by Cornelis Cort or one of his circle. The text of the original volume is in Dutch, but the proverb below the image is in Italian: "A gatto che lecca Spiedo,/non gli fidato arrosto" [Do not entrust a roast to a cat licking the spit.].
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1635
maker
Cort, Cornelis
ID Number
1978.0534.09
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.09

Roebuck Fleeing

Number 63 in a series of animal subjects drawn from life by Ridinger. Trimmed; artist's initials at right below image.Currently not on view
Description
Number 63 in a series of animal subjects drawn from life by Ridinger. Trimmed; artist's initials at right below image.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1740
maker
Ridinger, Johann Elias
ID Number
1978.0534.22
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.22

Portrait of a man

Engraving after painting by Salvator Rosa once in the Common Parlour at Houghton. Now in State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Description
Engraving after painting by Salvator Rosa once in the Common Parlour at Houghton. Now in State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1. Captioned by Boydell as a Captain of Bandits; now identified as a male portrait but considered possibly a self-portrait of Rosa.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1777
original artist
Rosa, Salvator
engraver
Michel, Jean Baptiste
delineator
Farington, George
publisher
Boydell, John
ID Number
1978.0534.02.71
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.71

Henrietta Maria Queen of Great Britain

Engraving after painting by Anthony van Dyck once in the Drawing Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Description
Engraving after painting by Anthony van Dyck once in the Drawing Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2. This plate was first published in 1716 and reprinted for the Houghton Gallery series. Paired with portrait of King Charles I.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1778
engraver
Gunst, Pieter Stevens van
original artist
Van Dyck, Anthony
publisher
Boydell, John
Boydell, Josiah
ID Number
1978.0534.03.70
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.70

The Death of Joseph

Engraving after painting attributed to Velasquez once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, attributed to Alonso Cano. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.Currently not on view
Description
Engraving after painting attributed to Velasquez once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, attributed to Alonso Cano. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1780
artist attribution
Velazquez, Diego Rodriguez de Silva y
Velazquez, Diego Rodriguez de Silva y
publisher
Boydell, John
artist attribution
Cano, Alonso
engraver
Michel, Jean Baptiste
ID Number
1978.0534.03.16
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.16

Helena Fourment

Stipple engraving after painting formerly attributed to Anthony van Dyck, now considered to be by Peter Paul Rubens, once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England.
Description
Stipple engraving after painting formerly attributed to Anthony van Dyck, now considered to be by Peter Paul Rubens, once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Originally in the Hermitage Palace, the painting was sold about 1930 and is now in the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2. SI Secretary's Library stamp embossed below image (trimmed; only partial stamp remains).
Pencil inscription on verso reads: "Should be Helena Fourment by Rubens," possibly in Jacob Kainen's hand.
Full-length portrait long considered to be of Rubens' second wife Helena Fourment (1614-1673), although the identity of the sitter is now in some dispute.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1783
delineator
Farington, George
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Sailliar, Louis
original artist
Rubens, Peter Paul
ID Number
1978.0534.03.38
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.38

Virgin and Child

Engraving after painting by Alessandro Turchi (also known as Alessandro Veronese) once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Sent to the Hermitage Palace; sold about 1930; present location of the painting is unknown. Print removed from George P.
Description
Engraving after painting by Alessandro Turchi (also known as Alessandro Veronese) once in the Cabinet at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Sent to the Hermitage Palace; sold about 1930; present location of the painting is unknown. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1784
maker
Veronese, Paolo
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Picot, Victor Marie
original artist
Turchi, Alessandro
Veronese, Paolo
ID Number
1978.0534.03.58
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.58

Untitled landscape with bridge

Engraving after painting by John Wootton once in the Little Dressing Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. The painting does not seem to have been included in the sale to Catherine II of Russia, although it was engraved for the volume of prints.
Description
Engraving after painting by John Wootton once in the Little Dressing Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. The painting does not seem to have been included in the sale to Catherine II of Russia, although it was engraved for the volume of prints. Present location of the painting is unknown, but it may be one of three overdoor paintings still in situ at Houghton Hall. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1784
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Lerpiniere, Daniel
original artist
Wootton, John
ID Number
1978.0534.03.41
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.41

Virgin & Infant Jesus Asleep

Stipple engraving after painting by Sebastiano Conca once in the Cabinet at Houghton. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Description
Stipple engraving after painting by Sebastiano Conca once in the Cabinet at Houghton. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2. Impressions of this print were mistakenly included in both volumes of Marsh's set. The more typical location of the print was in vol. 2 according to the order given in the checklist of the contents of the Houghton Gallery in Rubenstein (1991). For the other impression, still bound in vol. 1, see 1978.0534.02.77.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1781
publisher
Boydell, John
original artist
Conca, Sebastiano
graphic artist
Michel, Jean Baptiste
ID Number
1978.0534.03.33
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.03.33

The Happy Peasants or Landscape with figures dancing

Engraving after original painting, a landscape with figures dancing, once in the Coffee Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk,England. Current location of the original is unknown. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh's copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol.
Description
Engraving after original painting, a landscape with figures dancing, once in the Coffee Room at Houghton Hall, Norfolk,England. Current location of the original is unknown. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh's copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1775
designer
Farington, Joseph
publisher
Boydell, John
engraver
Mason, James
ID Number
1978.0534.02.32
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.32

The Mocking of Ceres

Engraving, night print. Trimmed and mounted on manila paper within ink-ruled border; oval blind stamp of the SI Secretary's Library at lower left. Two columns of Latin verse signed "Janus Rutgers" form an inscription below the image.
Description
Engraving, night print. Trimmed and mounted on manila paper within ink-ruled border; oval blind stamp of the SI Secretary's Library at lower left. Two columns of Latin verse signed "Janus Rutgers" form an inscription below the image. The subject is based on the Metamorphoses of Ovid and the print is dedicated to Cardinal Scipio Borghese.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1610
original artist
Elsheimer, Adam
engraver
Goudt, Hendrik
ID Number
1978.0534.49
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.49

Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar

Engraving from original painting by Pietro da Cortona once in the Gallery at Houghton. Now in Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, as The Return of Hagar. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.Currently not on view
Description
Engraving from original painting by Pietro da Cortona once in the Gallery at Houghton. Now in Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, as The Return of Hagar. Print tipped onto sheet bound in George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 1.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1776
original artist
Cortona, Pietro da
engraver
Michel, Jean Baptiste
delineator
Farington, George
publisher
Boydell, John
ID Number
1978.0534.02.58
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.0534.02.58

The Holy Family with Saints Elizabeth and John the Baptist

Engraving after painting by Nicolas Poussin once in the Embroidered Bed Chamber at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2.
Description
Engraving after painting by Nicolas Poussin once in the Embroidered Bed Chamber at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, England. Now in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Print removed from George P. Marsh’s copy of The Houghton Gallery, vol. 2. Marsh probably wrote the numeral 18 in pencil in the lower right margin. Pencil note on mounting sheet indicates the print was taken out for framing Mar. 17, 1894. Signed in the plate lower right: N. Poussin Pinxit De Pouilly Sculpsit Ex C P R.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1779
original artist
Poussin, Nicolas
engraver
Poilly, Francois de
publisher
Boydell, John
ID Number
1978.0534.03.20
accession number
1978.0534
catalog number
1978.03534.03.20

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