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Description: | bound volume (dimensions 54 x 38 x 7 cm) inscr. bc. "Her Grace the Dutchess of Monmouth ye Earle of Doncaster & ye Lord Henry"; inscr. bl. "G. Kneller pinx:"; inscr. bc. "I. Smith fec:"; inscr. br. "Sold by I. Smith at the Lyon and Crown in Russell Street Covent Garden" CRE SMITH, John; (English; 1652-1743) AFTER KNELLER, Godfrey, Sir; (English; 1646-1723) Part of William Hunter's original bequest, this is one of three volumes which together contain 488 mezzotints, almost all made or published by John Smith. About two thirds are portraits of eminent late Stuart, early Hanoverian persons, and one third fancy and mythological subjects.
Instrumental in raising the standard of mezzotint portraits, Smith was the first British printmaker to gain a European reputation, and examples of his work were essential for any serious early to mid 18th century European print collection.
Hunter's set of volumes is a rare surviving example of a comprehensive collection of mezzotints compiled in the 1730s.
Smith's close association with leading portrait painter Godfrey Kneller, author of this portrait, was key to his success. From around 1690 almost all engravings after portraits by Kneller, were executed by Smith.
Anna, Duchess of Monmouth is depicted with her sons James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith and Henry, Earl of Deloraine. The inscriptions indicate that although Charles, Earl of Doncaster is depicted, he died in infancy. Their father was James Crofts, illegitimate son of Charles II who died three years before this portrait was painted. This is one of a group of portraits of young royals and aristocrats in volume two. | License: | http://www.hmag.gla.ac.uk/spirit/rights/ | Publisher: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Rights holder: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Subjects: | BECKETT : WILLIAMS : LORD HENRY : PARROT : ALBUM : DUKE : GLOUCESTER : VOLUME : HUNTER VOLUME : | Source: | Hunterian Museum | Creator: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Identifier: | http://www.huntsearch.gla.ac.uk/cgi-bin/... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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