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Description: | bound volume (dimensions 54 x 38 x 7) inscr. on plate b.c. "Hic est Romana Cosimus de Gente Creatus / Anglica progeniem quem velit esse suam / Non Imitabilibus mulcet concentribus aures / Quos Pater Amphion diceret esse Suos / Ne talis volucres vir totus abiret in auras / sculptura hac Cosimi no sinat ora mori / Illustrissimo Domino Comiti de Baltemore qui Opusculum hoc promovere dignatus est, Hanc Jabulam in perpetuum / Obsequi Sui monumentum dicat consecratque Humillimus Servus J. Smith."; inscr. on plate b.l. "G. Kneller Eques pinx."; s. on plate b.r. "I. Smith fec 1706" CRE SMITH, John; (English; 1652-1743) AFTER KNELLER, Godfrey, Sir; (English; 1646-1723) PUB SMITH, John; (English; 1652-1743) 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.
Nicola Cosimo was an Italian musician and composer whose work was known in England. His portrait is included in volume two among a group of portraits of men of distinction from various fields, including politics, art and literature. | 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: | PORTRAIT : HALF-LENGTH : ALBUM : STANDING : VIOLIN : DUKE OF BEDFORD : 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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