Epithalamia Oxoniensia sive gratulationes in augustissimi regis Georgii III. et illustrissimae principissae Sophiae Charlottae nuptias auspicatissimas

Art Historical Context

This elegant volume, *Epithalamia Oxoniensia*, was published in 1761 by Oxford University’s Clarendon Press to mark the marriage of King George III and Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgrelitz. The Latin title, translating roughly as “Oxford Wedding Songs,” signals its purpose as a collection of congratulatory poems by scholars including Joseph Spence, James Merrick, and Thomas Warton. Such books were traditional academic tributes, blending literary praise with royal celebration during a moment of national renewal at the start of George III’s reign. The illustrations, executed in etching and engraving, were contributed by Johann Sebastian Müller and other artists associated with the university. These techniques allowed for fine detail and tonal richness on the printed page, enhancing the verses with allegorical imagery suited to the occasion. Measuring roughly 15 by 10 inches, the book exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of mid-eighteenth-century British printmaking. Now in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection through the bequest of W. Gedney Beatty, this work offers visitors a tangible link between poetry, print culture, and the ceremonial life of Georgian England.

About the Artist

Clarendon Press|Joseph Spence|James Merrick|Thomas Warton|Johann Sebastian Müller|Oxford University|George III, King of Great Britain and Ireland|Charlotte, Queen of England (British|British|British|British|German|British|British|British) · 1700 |1699 |1720 |1728 |1715 |1450 |1738 |1744 –2050 |1768 |1769 |1790 |1790 |3000 |1820 |1818

British, Oxford|British, Kingsclere, Hampshire 1699–1768 Byfleet, Surrey|British, 1720–1769|British, Basingstoke, Hampshire 1728–1790 Trinity College, Oxford|German, Nuremberg 1715–1790 London| |British, London 1738–1820 Windsor|1744–1818