James Groleau Portrait Prints

This is a 17th century engraved mezzotint portrait of the Duchess of St. Albans by John Smith, after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller. It was published in London by John Boydell in 1694. The Duchess of St. Albans (1642-1712) was a woman named Diana de Vere. She was born in 1642, the daughter of Aubrey de Vere, the 20th Earl of Oxford. In 1662, she married Charles Beauclerk, the illegitimate son of King Charles II and his mistress, Nell Gwyn. As a result of her marriage, Diana became the Duchess of St. Albans, and she and Charles had several children together. Diana was known for her beauty and charm, and she was a prominent figure in the court of King Charles II. Despite her husband's illegitimate birth, Diana was highly respected in the royal court and was known for her intelligence and wit. She was a patron of the arts and supported many artists and writers of the time. Diana lived through a tumultuous period of English history, including the Great Fire of London and the Glorious Revolution, which saw King James II replaced by William of Orange. She died in 1712 at the age of 70 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Descendants of Diana and her husband, who was an illegitimate son of King Charles II, include Diana, Princess of Wales and her son William, Duke of Cambridge. An author wrote of her: "The line of Vere, so long renown’d in arms, Concludes with luster in St. Albans’s charms; Her conquering eyes have made their race complete, It rose in valor, and in beauty set." This striking mezzotint engraving depicts Diana, Duchess of St Albans in a three-quarter length pose, standing, wearing loose flowing dress and a wrap. She has a very serene, calm appearance as she is looking straight at the viewer. There is a landscape of trees in the background. The print is adhered in the corners to an archival backing, which is itself adhered in the upper corners to a larger backing. The print is trimmed to just beyond the plate mark. There are areas of discoloration in the margins and in the inscription area, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. The sheet measures 14.5" high and 10" wide. This mezzotint is held by multiple museums and institutions, including The British Museum, The National Portrait Gallery London, The Fine Arts Museum of Boston, The Lewis Walpole Library at Yale, The Yale Center for British Art, The Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge and The National Galleries of Scotland. The original Kneller painting is part of the British Royal Collection Trust and hangs in the King's Private Dining Room at Hampton Court Palace. Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) was a leading portrait painter of his time, particularly renowned for his depictions of the British aristocracy and royalty. He was born in Lübeck, Germany, and trained in Amsterdam under the painter Ferdinand Bol...

A fine mezzotint engraving, after an original oil painting by Sir Henry Raeburn RA. Published by Gladwell & Co ltd, London 1937. Mounted in an elegant Hogarth-style frame. Indistinct...

Carol Wax deconstructs a Singer sewing machine in this mezzotint created in an edition of 75. The image gives equal weight to the steel of the machine and the silk of the fabric. It...

Le banc de jardin (The Garden Bench). 1883. Mezzotint. Tissot catalog 79, Béraldi catalog 66, Wentworth catalog 75 state ii/iii. 16 1/2 x 22 1/8 (s...

Francisco Souto has created his self portrait working on the plate of a mezzotint. This is impression #14 from an edition of only 23. Souto received a BFA from Herron School of Art ...

'The Honourable Lady Stanhope' Anne Hussey (Delaval), Lady Stanhope (died 1811) was the wife of Sir William Stanhope of Whig Park. James Watson (c1739-...

Love and Death (after George Frederic Watts, R.A., H.R.C.A. 1817 - 1904). 1900. Mezzotint. Hardie 71 between i and ii. 24 1/2 x 12 (sheet 27 1/4 x 13 3/ 8). Edition 350 in state one. London, Published May 1st 1900 by Robert Dunthorne ,5 Vigo Street, London W. Rubbing and discoloration from a previous mat in the margins, well outside the image. A rich proof printed on Japon paper. Signed in pencil by Watts and by Short. Housed in an archival folder ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winged Love...

This is an 18th century mezzotint portrait of Elizabeth, Countess of Northumberland, Baroness Percy by Richard Houston after a painting by Joshua Reynolds, published in London by Robert Sayer in 1763. It is a rare, full length portrait of Elizabeth, who was known as Lady Betty. Lady Betty stands, facing to the right, holding her coronet, and wearing her peeress’s ermine and velvet robes over a brocade dress. In the background are a column, a billowing drape, and the grounds of Alnwick Castle...

Carol Wax's mezzotint, "Singer I", shows a distorted view of an old Singer sewing machine. The artist created a convincing illusion of real mass, space and depth. Issued in an edit...

Carol Wax's mezzotint, Singer II looking at the end of the typewriter portrays the incised metal and the wood grain of the machine. It was issued as an edition of 75. This image is i...

A charming mezzontint after the portrait by Henry MacBeth Raeburn depicting General Hay MacDowall. Hay MacDowall was a Scottish officer in the British Army who was the sixth General ...

Haarlem: c1700. Mezzotint on watermarked laid paper, 11 1/2 x 18 1/4 inches (290 x 462 mm), thread margins. In good condition with expert repairs at the right corners, and upper-lef...