In 1747, his poem "Musaeus, a Monody on the Death of Mr. Pope" was published to acclaim and quickly went through several editions.[2] Summarizing this poem, a threnody, William Lyon Phelps writes:
Musaeus was a monody on the death of Pope, and written in imitation of Milton's Lycidas. Different poets in Musaeus bewail Pope's death; Chaucer speaks in an imitation of old English, and Spenser speaks two stanzas after the metre of the Shepherd's Calendar and three stanzas in the style of the Fairy Queen. There is nothing remarkable about these imitations....[3]
Among his other works are the historical tragedies Elfrida (1752) and Caractacus (1759) (both used in translation as libretti for 18th century operas: Elfrida - Paisiello and LeMoyne, Caractacus - Sacchini (as Arvire et Évélina) and a long poem on gardening, The English Garden (three volumes, 1772–82). His garden designs included one for the Viscount Harcourt.
He entered the Church in 1754, and in 1762 became the precentor and canon of York Minster.[4]
He was the friend, executor, and biographer of Thomas Gray, who was a great influence on his own work. In 1775 The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W[illiam]. Mason. York, was published.[5] He was also a friend of Horace Walpole[6] and Joshua Reynolds.
Two of his works of scenes at the York racecourse, "A Country Racecourse with horses preparing to start" and "A Country Racecourse with horses running". were reproduced as mezzotint illustrations in 1786 by Francis Jukes in collaboration with Robert Pollard.[8][9]
Memorial inscriptions for Mason may be found in the church at Aston near Rotherham where he was rector and at Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. A cenotaph was also erected by Countess Harcourt in the gardens at Nuneham Courtenay.[3][10]
^"William Mason (M742W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^Singer, S. W. (1822). The Life of William Mason, M.A. The British Poets including Translations. In One Hundred Volumes. Vol. LXXVII. Chiswick: C. Whittingham, College House. 5.
^ abPhelps, William Lyon (1904). The Beginnings of the English Romantic Movement. Boston: Ginn and Co. p. 69.
^"Review of The Correspondence of Horace Walpole, Earl of Oxford, and the Rev. William Mason edited, with Notes, by the Rev. J. Mitford, 2 vols". The Quarterly Review. 89: 135–169. June 1851.
Quotations related to William Mason (poet) at Wikiquote
William Mason at the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA)
May 01, 2024
william, mason, poet, william, mason, february, 1724, april, 1797, english, poet, divine, amateur, draughtsman, author, editor, gardener, william, masonwilliam, mason, william, doughty, canvas, 1778, born, 1724, february, 1724kingston, upon, hull, east, riding. William Mason 12 February 1724 7 April 1797 was an English poet divine amateur draughtsman author editor and gardener William MasonWilliam Mason by William Doughty oil on canvas 1778 Born 1724 02 12 12 February 1724Kingston upon Hull East Riding of Yorkshire EnglandDied7 April 1797 1797 04 07 aged 73 Aston East Riding of Yorkshire EnglandOccupation s English poet editor and gardener The death of Alexander Pope from Museus a threnody by Mason published in 1747 Contents 1 Life 2 Gallery The English Garden 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksLife editHe was born in Hull and educated at Hull Grammar School and St John s College Cambridge 1 He was ordained in 1754 and held a number of posts in the church In 1747 his poem Musaeus a Monody on the Death of Mr Pope was published to acclaim and quickly went through several editions 2 Summarizing this poem a threnody William Lyon Phelps writes Musaeus was a monody on the death of Pope and written in imitation of Milton s Lycidas Different poets in Musaeus bewail Pope s death Chaucer speaks in an imitation of old English and Spenser speaks two stanzas after the metre of the Shepherd s Calendar and three stanzas in the style of the Fairy Queen There is nothing remarkable about these imitations 3 Among his other works are the historical tragedies Elfrida 1752 and Caractacus 1759 both used in translation as libretti for 18th century operas Elfrida Paisiello and LeMoyne Caractacus Sacchini as Arvire et Evelina and a long poem on gardening The English Garden three volumes 1772 82 His garden designs included one for the Viscount Harcourt He entered the Church in 1754 and in 1762 became the precentor and canon of York Minster 4 He was the friend executor and biographer of Thomas Gray who was a great influence on his own work In 1775 The Poems of Mr Gray To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W illiam Mason York was published 5 He was also a friend of Horace Walpole 6 and Joshua Reynolds Mason s artwork was considered worthy of showing at the Royal Academy between 1782 and 1786 7 In 1785 he was William Pitt the Younger s choice to succeed William Whitehead as Poet Laureate but refused the honour Two of his works of scenes at the York racecourse A Country Racecourse with horses preparing to start and A Country Racecourse with horses running were reproduced as mezzotint illustrations in 1786 by Francis Jukes in collaboration with Robert Pollard 8 9 Memorial inscriptions for Mason may be found in the church at Aston near Rotherham where he was rector and at Poet s Corner in Westminster Abbey A cenotaph was also erected by Countess Harcourt in the gardens at Nuneham Courtenay 3 10 He was the guardian of Francis Ferrand Foljambe during his minority 11 Gallery The English Garden edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp See also editPoets CornerReferences edit William Mason M742W A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Singer S W 1822 The Life of William Mason M A The British Poets including Translations In One Hundred Volumes Vol LXXVII Chiswick C Whittingham College House 5 a b Phelps William Lyon 1904 The Beginnings of the English Romantic Movement Boston Ginn and Co p 69 precentor More on Thomas Gray Review of The Correspondence of Horace Walpole Earl of Oxford and the Rev William Mason edited with Notes by the Rev J Mitford 2 vols The Quarterly Review 89 135 169 June 1851 Mason and the Academy British Museum A Country Racecourse set Mason William 1724 1797 guardian of Francis Ferrand FoljambeSources editAuthor and Bookinfo com Translation into French of The English Garden with five drawings William Mason at the Dictionary of National Biography 1885 1900External links edit nbsp Media related to William Mason poet at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Works by or about William Mason at Wikisource nbsp Quotations related to William Mason poet at Wikiquote William Mason at the Eighteenth Century Poetry Archive ECPA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Mason poet amp oldid 1192830149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
