A Pair of Antique “Modern Athenians” Scottish Caricature Prints

A Pair of Antique “Modern Athenians” Caricature Prints
By Benjamin William Crombie (1803-1847),
Etching With Original Hand-Colouring,
Published Edinburgh  
1839 & 1840 

Each Measures: 25 cm x 30.5 cm approx. (image) 

Framed and glazed

A pair of caricature prints from the famous “Modern Athenians” series by the Scottish draftsman, engraver, and caricaturist Benjamin William Crombie (1803-1847) depicting chance meetings on the street between celebrated Edinburgh figures of the late Regency/early Victorian era. At this time, at the tail-end of the "Scottish Enlightenment", Edinburgh was very much known as the "Athens of the North" and in Crombie's caricatures its intellectual figures were celebrated as “Modern Athenians”. The subjects depicted were often from similar walks of life but were amusingly juxtaposed in their appearance.

The prints here are "No.7: Rev. John Hunter and Prof. Alexander Brunton" and "No.18: Lord Robertson and Rt. Hon. John Hope".  
 
Rev. John Hunter (1788-1866) was the son of the Reverend Dr. Andrew Hunter, professor of divinity at the University of Edinburgh. He was one of the ministers of the Tron Kirk, Edinburgh, from 1832 till his death. His presence was described as "far from prepossessing" (as here).

Prof. Alexander Brunton (1773-1854) was also a minister at the Tron Kirk before becoming Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at the University of Edinburgh in 1813. He became moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1823. He was described as having a “fine, though somewhat pompous, presence” (evident from the print).

Lord Patrick Robertson (1794-1855) was a Scottish judge and Senator of the College of Justice. He lived at 32 Drummond Place, Edinburgh. He was generally known as "Peter" was a friend of Sir Walter Scott and thought of as a great wit.

Rt. Hon. John Hope (1794-1858) was Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland. He lived at 20 Moray Place in New Town, Edinburgh.

For Rev. John Hunter and Prof. Alexander Brunton see BM 1932,0330.93
For Lord Robertson and Rt. Hon. John Hope see BM 1932,0330.103 and Scottish National Portrait Gallery SP V 212.4. 

Good condition, usual central folds from original book publication. Well presented, framed and glazed in modern frames with blue, laid card mounts.