Engraver:
Peter Pelham, English, c.1697-1751
After Unknown Artist, England, 17th century, British
Title: Portrait of Jonathan Swift, (1667-1745), Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin and Satirist
Date: 1720-1721
Medium: Mezzotint
Dimensions:
Sheet: 36.5 x 25.8 cm
Plate: 35 x 24.8 cm
Credit Line: Purchased, 1888
Object Number: NGI.11022
DescriptionThis ‘portrait’ mezzotint of Jonathan Swift is in fact printed from an altered plate which originally depicted an English clergyman, Reverend Benjamin Pratt. The original mezzotint was engraved by John Simon between 1690 and 1710, and later the plate was altered by Peter Pelham to become a portrait of Swift. The face was altered, the original inscription removed and new lettering added below the image.
Inscriptionlower centre (below image, lettered): Ionathan Swift S.T.D. / Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick's in Dublin / P.Pelham fect / I Bowles Excudt / Four Brilliant gems [... ] That one Hiberian Draper's wit be lost.