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Description: | bound volume (dimensions 54 x 38 x 7) title inscr. on plate b.c. "S. Maria D.G. Ang. Sco. Fran. et Hib Regina &c."; inscr. on plate b.l. "G. Kneller Eques pinx:"; inscr. br. "Sold by I. Smith at ye Lyon and Crown in Russel 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.
Mary II daughter of James II of the Stuart dynasty, took the throne as joint monarchs with William III after her father fled to France. She reigned with William until her death. This print is one of a group of royal portraits toward the end of volume two. Smith created a series of royal portraits covering the Stuart and Hanoverian dynasties up to George II. | 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 : OVAL : BROOCH : WILLIAM II : QUEEN : 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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