THE VIRTUOSI, OR ST. LUKE'S CLUB.
Where is to be found that intensely interesting MS. Lot 120., Sixth Day's Sale, at Strawberry Hill, a folio tract entitled The "Virtuosi," or St. Luke's Club, held at the Rose Tavern, first established by Sir Anthony Vandyke; with Autographs of all the eminent Artists of the day?
Such is the account of Mr. George Robins, to the sound of whose hammer it fell, let us hope, into worthy hands.
By the aid of a note made whilst the several precious contents of that "Gothic Vatican of Greece and Rome," as I think Pope described it, were on view, I hope to whet the appetite of some of our literary vultures:
"Rose Tavern, Mar. 5. 1697.
"An order for raising an annual fund for pictures; with twenty names of stewards."
What say you, Mr. Editor, to such subscribing parties as, among others, "Grinling Gibbons, Michael Dahl, J. Closterman, and Christopher Wren?" I cannot remember more, but I think "Alex. Verrio" was among them.
Mem. the second: as entries in a sort of journal:
"That our steward, John Chicheley, Esquire, gave us this day a Westphalia Ham, which had been omitted in his entertainment on St. Luke's day."
Again:
"Paid and spent at Spring Gardens, by Knightsbridge, forfeiture £3 15 shgs."
Why, Mr. Editor, here are the new Roxburgh Revels of the Knights of the Brush and Palette. And now that the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the day is expected to take out his diploma, and the ex-Premier is to be the new Professor of Perspective, vice the author of the Fallacies of Hope, it becomes a question of prevailing interest, which I commend to the research of your dilettanti querists. It may be a thread of connexion with those stores of precious materials obtained by Walpole from the widow of that persevering investigator George Virtue.
J. H. A.