The Plays of Philip Massinger.

1805

De Beer Eb 1805 M

Bookplates

Lady Diana Duff Cooper (1892-1986) was a British socialite, actress, and author. Married to politician and diplomat Alfred Duff Cooper (1890-1954), the couple lived a life of privilege and excess, surrounded by famous artists and the intellectuals of the day. Lady Cooper’s bookplate was executed by the artist Rex Whistler (1905-44). It includes images associated with her lifestyle: champagne bottles, grape vines, scrolls, and despatch boxes. Cooper herself is portrayed as Diana the Huntress in a bust that Whistler described to her as ‘haughty’; the overall rococo style is in keeping with the artist’s oeuvre. In all, Whistler produced 18 bookplates, mostly for friends, and his designs are described as having a ‘wonderful lightness and elegance’ (Lee, 1973).