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Description: | bound volume (dimensions 54 x 38 x 7) inscr. on plate b.c. "MRS ARABELLA HUNT Dyed December 26th 1705 / were then on Earth another Voice like thine, / Another Hand, so Blessed with skill Devine; / The late afflicted World some hopes might have, / And Harmony recall thee from the Grave."; inscr. on plate b.l. "G. Kneller S.R. Imp et Angl. Eques aur pinx."; s. on plate b.r. "I. Smith fec. et ex 1706" 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.
Arabella Hunt was a popular singer and musician at court and was a tutor to Queen Anne. Her portrait appears in volume two among other portraits of women from the court and the wives and daughters of eminent men. | 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 : THREE-QUARTER LENGTH : ALBUM : LUTE : SINGER : MARY II : CONGREVE : 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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