Portrait Print
1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Mezzotint is a form of tonal engraving. The engraver first creates a surface that will print solid black by roughening the surface of a copper plate with a serrated tool called a 'rocker'. This process raises a fragile burr of displaced copper which will hold a lot of printing ink. The design is then created by smoothing this burr in varying degrees to print a range of velvety tones. For white highlights, the engraver polishes the burr completely away, making the plate perfectly smooth once more, so no ink will adhere after the surface has been wiped.
People
Thomas Frye is important to both the history of printmaking and the history of porcelain manufacture. He had a promising early career as an artist, but seems to have abandoned it to become instead a partner in the Bow porcelain factory in London. Frye registered several patents in the 1740s for improvements to the manufacturing process and his epitaph in the Gentleman's Magazine described him as 'The Inventor and first Manufacturer of PORCELAIN in England'.
On retirement from the factory in 1759, after 15 years during which he painted very little, Frye resumed work as an artist. His most famous works are a series of striking, lifesize mezzotint portraits. This self-portrait is from that series and Frye has shown himself in his capacity as an artist. He holds a drawing implement known as a 'porte-crayon' (literally, a crayon-holder).
Mezzotint is a form of tonal engraving. The engraver first creates a surface that will print solid black by roughening the surface of a copper plate with a serrated tool called a 'rocker'. This process raises a fragile burr of displaced copper which will hold a lot of printing ink. The design is then created by smoothing this burr in varying degrees to print a range of velvety tones. For white highlights, the engraver polishes the burr completely away, making the plate perfectly smooth once more, so no ink will adhere after the surface has been wiped.
People
Thomas Frye is important to both the history of printmaking and the history of porcelain manufacture. He had a promising early career as an artist, but seems to have abandoned it to become instead a partner in the Bow porcelain factory in London. Frye registered several patents in the 1740s for improvements to the manufacturing process and his epitaph in the Gentleman's Magazine described him as 'The Inventor and first Manufacturer of PORCELAIN in England'.
On retirement from the factory in 1759, after 15 years during which he painted very little, Frye resumed work as an artist. His most famous works are a series of striking, lifesize mezzotint portraits. This self-portrait is from that series and Frye has shown himself in his capacity as an artist. He holds a drawing implement known as a 'porte-crayon' (literally, a crayon-holder).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Mezzotint, ink on paper |
| Brief description | Self-portrait by Thomas Frye |
| Physical description | Printed self portrait |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Signed 'Ipse'; inscribed in pencil 'Thomas Frye, Painter by himself' |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The pioneer porcelain makers in England were surprisingly diverse in their backgrounds. Thomas Frye abandoned a promising career as an artist when he began making porcelain at Bow, London. Despite his artistic training he was probably more closely involved with technical matters at the factory than with design or decoration.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made in London by Thomas Frye (born in or near Dublin, about 1710, died in London, 1762) |
| Summary | Object Type Mezzotint is a form of tonal engraving. The engraver first creates a surface that will print solid black by roughening the surface of a copper plate with a serrated tool called a 'rocker'. This process raises a fragile burr of displaced copper which will hold a lot of printing ink. The design is then created by smoothing this burr in varying degrees to print a range of velvety tones. For white highlights, the engraver polishes the burr completely away, making the plate perfectly smooth once more, so no ink will adhere after the surface has been wiped. People Thomas Frye is important to both the history of printmaking and the history of porcelain manufacture. He had a promising early career as an artist, but seems to have abandoned it to become instead a partner in the Bow porcelain factory in London. Frye registered several patents in the 1740s for improvements to the manufacturing process and his epitaph in the Gentleman's Magazine described him as 'The Inventor and first Manufacturer of PORCELAIN in England'. On retirement from the factory in 1759, after 15 years during which he painted very little, Frye resumed work as an artist. His most famous works are a series of striking, lifesize mezzotint portraits. This self-portrait is from that series and Frye has shown himself in his capacity as an artist. He holds a drawing implement known as a 'porte-crayon' (literally, a crayon-holder). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 29453B |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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