Spotlight

This page features one of the many treasures that can be found within the William Salt Library collection.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

The year 2009 marks the 300th anniversary of Samuel Johnson's birthday.  Amongst the outstanding collection of documents and volumes in the William Salt Library is a cartoon by the artist Thomas Rowlandson (1757-1827), marking Samuel Johnson's tour to the Hebrides in 1773 with James Boswell (1740-1795).

This illustration was originally published in Boswell's 'The Journal of the Tour to the Hebrides', which was based on the diary that Boswell kept throughout their travels.  Its primary focus is Johnson and it describes his charged encounters with the local population, whether they were ordinary people or important dignitaries.

In this cartoon Johnson is seen seated on the ground of the shore of the Firth of Forth, whilst Boswell holds back Johnson's head and playfully holds a fish to his mouth. The silhouette of Ritter, the servant, is seen behind Johnson and to the right of the view, three fishwives can be seen laughing and pointing at the scene.

Samuel Johnson himself also published in 1775 an account of this trip in 'A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland'  [WSL Ref: bs 1000].

William Salt Library Ref: Portraits: BOSWELL/JAMES/7

Follow this link to see previous documents that have been placed under the spotlight.

 

Last Modified: 27/10/2009 10:19:38
Back to top