Thomas Chatterton Manuscript Project
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Working on this page today 16/12/2023
Chatterton in his Garret
The two paintings of 'chatterton', shown above, were painted in 1860 by John Joseph Barker (1824-1904). They represent Chatterton while living in his garret in Brook Street, London.
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Auckland Art Gallery : Painting with the lit candle : View.
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Victoria Art Gallery : Painting with hourglass candle : View : View
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Do note the empty hourglass and the last wisp of smoke from the burnt out candle - is this meant to be Chatterton's last night? If anyone out there has any information that can throw light on the meanings in these two paintings, do let me know.
Samuel Derrick's Mock Will
Influence on Chatterton ?
Samuel Derrick
Meyerstein suggests that Chatterton was influenced to write his own 'mock' Will after reading Samuel Derrick's Will, which was printed in the April 1769 issue of the T&CM (Town & Country Magazine). According to Meyerstein, Samuel Derrick's Will derives from the 'Will' of Isaac Bickerstaff, in the Tatler, pp.66-72, which dates to 1709, a space of 60 years, which seems a bit of a stretch:
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My question, based on the fact that Samuel was dead and buried by the 2nd April 1769 (or was he?), is on the genuineness or otherwise of his Will. It seems to me that the character of the man dictates that a vein of humour would even weave its way through his Last Will & Testament - a chance too tempting to pass up, perhaps! Or was it written by the editor of the magazine - after all the dead don't talk!
All in all, a very interesting edition of the T&CM.
This same monthly issue contains two of Chatterton's works : pp. 174/5; 217;
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It also contains an Epilogue...Written by Mr. Walpole : View, which appears on the very next page (p.218), so close and yet too far to make a difference!
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Links to All Works & Correspondence
Call it what you will, authentic, doubtful, lost, or plainly wrong - if it was linked with Chatterton it will be included in Chatterton's Works & Correspondence. This will be the base point from which we can examine every piece of work, and add notes and links accordingly.