Robert Tull, account book

The account book comprises 93 leaves and was used by Tull from 8 March 1753 until 27 December 1757 and then by John Bandy who took responsibility for completing work in hand after Tull's death and gathering in sums owed; with evidence of later use by other unnamed persons. The pages used by Tull contain details of work he completed, this includes the name of the individual he did the work for; a description of the work; the date work was requested and the amount charged. One page has been torn out at an unknown date. There are some loose inserts at the back of the volume; it is not thought these are connected with Robert Tull.

Robert Tull (c.1731-1758) was a jobbing craftsman. In 1745 he was apprenticed to Jacob Gosset for £45. Tull set up his own business in 1753 and for a period he acted as a sub-contractor to leading Huguenot picture frame makers such as Gosset (probably Jacob Gosset), Jean Antoine Cuenot and Paul Petit. In 1756 Tull was operating out of Dufour's Court, Soho, which was at the heart of the thriving carving and gilding trade of 18th century London. His association with Jacobite engraver Sir Robert Strange and Scottish pastel portrait painter Catharine Read brought him numerous customers from the aristocracy and gentry. In November 1757 Tull married Charlotte Hanne or Hand, within a few weeks of the marriage Tull became ill and he died in early 1758.

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