Noon. In the second state—Shadows heightened.
Evening. In early impressions the man's hands are printed in blue, and the woman's face and neck in red; but they have been sometimes so stamped in later impressions, where the rail-post is crossed with intersecting lines, and the clearness of the water much injured.
In Hogarth's first design (engraved by Baron), the little girl with the fan was omitted; but the artist thinking his delineation would be improved by it, afterwards inserted it with his own burin. I have seen three impressions in this state; one of them, then thought to be unique, was purchased at Greenwood's Rooms, at Mr. Gulston's sale, by Mr. Thane, for the late Mr. G. Stevens, at the price of £47.
Night. The Salisbury flying coach has been thought to be a burlesque on a late noble peer, who delighted in driving his own horses.
I find by Hogarth's memorandum, that Sir William Heathcote purchased the picture of Morning for twenty guineas, and that of Night for £27, 6s. Noon was sold for £38, 17s., and Evening for £39, 18s., to the Duke of Ancaster.
2. Strolling Actresses dressing in a Barn.
Second state—The woman holding a cat has her coiffure lowered, and the female greasing her hair with a candle is divested of her feathers. Head of the sable goddess Night blacker, and her hair more woolly. Damages in the roof of the barn repaired; all the shallows darker.
By an account in one of Hogarth's books, the original picture was first sold to Francis Beckford, Esq., for £27, 6s. By him, though at so low a price, returned! and afterwards sold for the same sum to Mr. Wood of Littleton, in whose possession it still remains.
1739.
1. The Foundlings.