F ETCHINC 
 
SERIES OF ETCHINGS, 
 
 REPRESENTING THE 
 
 POWER AND PROGRESS 
 
 OF 
 
 GENIUS. 
 
 PRINTED FOR EDWARD HARDING, PALL MALL COURT, LOHDl 
 S. GOSNELL, LITTLE QUEEN STRBHT. 
 
 1806. 
 
The Etchings which are now laid at Your 
 Majesty's feet, would never have been executed, if 
 many of those who looked over the drawings had not 
 wished them to be published: but that, my dearest 
 Mother, you will see was impossible, for it would have 
 opened a door to much criticism, which in every situation 
 is unpleasant, but particularly in ours. I therefore 
 undertook to do them myself, as they might then pass 
 unnoticed, and protected in the pleasantest manner to 
 me, by one whose affection would kindly pardon the 
 faults of the head of the inventor. I trust those of the 
 heart will never be known by you, as its first wish has 
 ever been to prove grateful for those talents, which you 
 have so tenderly fostered and improved ; and if they 
 meet the approbation of those friends who will have 
 them, believe me I shall feel that the merit will be less 
 mine than yours, who have occasioned them to be 
 brought forward. 
 
 I remain, 
 With the greatest respect, 
 
 Your dutiful and affectionate Daughter, 
 
 May 19, 1800. 
 
1 
 
PLATE L 
 
 Imagination delivers the infant Genius into the hands 
 of Fancy. 
 
PLATE II. 
 Imagination guides Genius. 
 
PLATE III. 
 
 Fancy runs off with Genius. 
 
PLATE IV. 
 Imagination lets Genius fly. 
 
PLATE V. 
 
 Fancy, jealous of the flight of Genius, catches him 
 a wreath of flowers. 
 
PLATE VI. 
 
 enius sits on a rock, heavy and stupid, his lyre un- 
 strung; the stones of the rock, the base of a column, 
 the planks on the water* all inanimate, without any 
 appearance of his vivifying power, till Fancy tickles 
 his ear with a feather plucked from her own wing. 
 
fl. his lyre ut 
 
PLATE VII. 
 
 Imagination takes the bandage from the eyes of Genius, 
 while Fancy eagerly looks on. 
 
PLATE VIII. 
 
 Genius begins to enlighten the Fine Arts. Painting 
 was invented by Love. Genius holds the canvas while 
 Imagination paints, and Cupid sits at her feet, chalks 
 out her wishes, and with his other hand held up 
 denotes silence. 
 
PLATE 
 enlighten 
 
PLATE IX. 
 
 Music. 
 
PLATE X. 
 Sculpture. 
 
PLATE XI. 
 
 Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting, try to attain 
 Genius, who flies over their heads flourishing his 
 torch. 
 
PLATE XII. 
 
 Geography, History, and Poetry, crowned by Genius. 
 The flame which always appears on the head of 
 Poetry is here supposed to have arisen from a spark 
 which fell from the torch of Genius. 
 
PLATE XIII. 
 Genius enchained by Ignorance and Folly. 
 
PLATE XIV. 
 
 Genius breaks the emblem of Folly, and treads on 
 Ignorance. 
 
PLATE XV. 
 
 Genius returns to Imagination, with Folly and Ignorance 
 in chains. 
 
PLATE XVI. 
 
 Out of the emblem of Folly, Genius forms the distaff, 
 at which Fancy dances for joy, and Imagination 
 prepares to follow her. 
 
ii ) 
 
 I 
 
MATE XVII. 
 
 Genius teaches Fancy to apta, and Injaginatioo attc; 
 U, tbcro. 
 
PLATE XVII. 
 
 Genius teaches Fancy to spin, and Imagination attends 
 to them. 
 
PLATE XVIII. 
 
 Imagination shears a ram. Fancy weaves. Genius brings 
 her a flake of wool. 
 
EiiUa imfb, *cu/p,f 
 
PLATE XIX. 
 
 Fancy amuses the infant Genius with four dried leaves 
 tied to the end of a stick, blown round and round. 
 Imagination urges Genius to look at her invention of 
 the windmill, from the circular motion of the leaves. 
 
PLATE XX. 
 
 Agriculture. Fancy sows, Genius drives the plough, 
 Imagination guides and watches their progress. 
 
Genius 
 
With a iOcs, ;*ai 
 drapery. liu;igiU: 
 what improvement 
 
PLATE XXI. 
 
 The origin of Navigation ; supposed to have been 
 occasioned by the hollow trunk of a tree floating on 
 the water. Genius jumps into it, and begins to row 
 with a stick. Fancy forms a sail with part of her 
 drapery. Imagination kneels, pleased to consider 
 what improvements she can make. 
 
PLATE XXII. 
 
 The forging of anchors. Fancy blows the bellows. 
 Genius works at the forge. Imagination is deep in 
 thought. 
 
;uichur> 
 
 111 
 
PLATE XXIII 
 
 The making of cables, i s •< \ turns 1 
 at work. Imagination fasti ■ the cs 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
PLATE XXIII. 
 
 The making of cables. Fancy turns the wheel. Genius 
 at work. Imagination fastens the cable to the anchor. 
 
PLATE XXIV. 
 
 Pottery. Genius at work. Fancy presents various forms 
 of vases to Imagination, who places them, when 
 finished, on shelves. 
 
PLATE XXIV. 
 at work. Fancy presents va