Portrait of Thomas Coulson, Esq.
Print
1714 (engraved), 1688 (painted)
1714 (engraved), 1688 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Horace Walpole described John Smith as 'the best mezzotinter that has appeared, who unites softness with strength, and finishing with freedom'. It was no doubt the virtuosity he displayed with the medium that cemented Smith's working relationship with the portrait painter, Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), for whom Smith engraved a large number of reproductive mezzotints. In acknowledgment of the success of their professional partnership, Kneller painted Smith's portrait. In a wonderful conceit, the painting depicts the engraver holding a mezzotint he executed after a self-portrait by Kneller.
This particular print is after a portrait Kneller painted in 1688 of the MP, Thomas Coulson (1645-1713), who had died by the time Smith produced the print in 1714. The print was probably commissioned to profit from the surge of interest there would inevitably have been in the deceased sitter.
This particular print is after a portrait Kneller painted in 1688 of the MP, Thomas Coulson (1645-1713), who had died by the time Smith produced the print in 1714. The print was probably commissioned to profit from the surge of interest there would inevitably have been in the deceased sitter.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Portrait of Thomas Coulson, Esq. (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Mezzotint, paper and ink |
| Brief description | Mezzotint; John Smith; portrait of Thomas Coulson, Esq. after G. Kneller, 1714. |
| Physical description | Half-length portrait of a man in a curled wig wearing a lace cravat. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mme Gertrude Leduc |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Horace Walpole described John Smith as 'the best mezzotinter that has appeared, who unites softness with strength, and finishing with freedom'. It was no doubt the virtuosity he displayed with the medium that cemented Smith's working relationship with the portrait painter, Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), for whom Smith engraved a large number of reproductive mezzotints. In acknowledgment of the success of their professional partnership, Kneller painted Smith's portrait. In a wonderful conceit, the painting depicts the engraver holding a mezzotint he executed after a self-portrait by Kneller. This particular print is after a portrait Kneller painted in 1688 of the MP, Thomas Coulson (1645-1713), who had died by the time Smith produced the print in 1714. The print was probably commissioned to profit from the surge of interest there would inevitably have been in the deceased sitter. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.3664-2007 |
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| Record created | April 2, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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