Object Number 1976.0235

Object Name

Print (Mezzotint)

Title

The Royal Academy of Arts

Category

Prints and Maps

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase with funds provided by the Charles E. Merrill Trust for the Purchase of English Objects

Creator (Role)

Richard Earlom (Mezzotinter)
1743-1822
References: Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, vol. 1, pp. 242-43.

Johann Zoffany R.A. (Painter)
1733-1810

Robert Sayer (Publisher)
1725-02//1794
Sayer became active as a printseller as early as the late 1740s. He built up his stock of copper plates by taking over others’ inventories, first Philip Overton, then James McArdell when he died in 1765. He worked in partnership with John Bennett from around 1774 to 1785, then operated alone again through 1793. When he died in February 1794, the firm (along with Sayer’s stock of plates) were taken over by another London print firm, Laurie & Whittle.

Place of Origin

London, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Date

August 1 1773 (1773-1773)

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Lower left beneath image; J Zoffany pinxit.
2. Inscription; Center beneath image; Publish'd August 1,\st 1773. R Sayer Excudit
3. Inscription; Lower right beneath image; R\d Earlom Sculp\st

Subjects

Portrait

Materials

Ink; Paper (laid)

Techniques

Mezzotint with minimal burin work

Dimensions (inches)

19.3 (H) , 28 (W) , 19.3 (Image H) , 28 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

49 (H) , 71.2 (W) , 19.3 (Image H) , 28 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

H at left. W at bottom. Trimmed within plate marks and possibly above title.

Publisher Summary

Sayer, Robert

Publication Date

08/01/1773

Place of Publication

London

State

Scratch-letter proof

Watermark

Crowned double eagle

Edition Notes

Watermark similar to Heawood #1317, Paris 1772. In the finished state the legend reads: "The ROYAL ACADEMY of ARTS, instituted by the KING in the YEAR 1768-Humbly dedicated to its ROYAL PATRON. by His Majesty's most faithful Subject, ROBERT SAYER--mezzotint engraving by RICHARDUS EARLOM, 1773; JOHANNES ZOFFANDI, pinxit".

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Smith, John Chaloner. 1884 British Mezzotinto Portraits; Being a Descriptive Catalogue of These Engravings from the Introduction of the Art to the early part of the present century. 2. 461-940.
• Listed as no. pp. 242-4.
[Book] Manners, Victoria & Williamson, G. C. 1920 John Zoffany, R.A.
• For information on painting, including identification of all sitters, see pp. 29-34.
[Book] Millar, Oliver. 1969 The Later Georgian Pictures in the collection of her Majesty the Queen. 1.
• For information on painting, see pp. 152-4.
[Book] Penny, Nicholas. 1986 Reynolds. 408 p.
• For information on painting, see p. 341.
[Book] Webster, Mary. 1976 John Zoffany, 1733-1810.
• For information on painting, see pp. 57-8.