Engraver:
James Watson, Irish, c.1740-1790
After Hugh Douglas Hamilton, Irish, 1740-1808
Title: Anne, Countess of Cork and Orrery (1742-1785)
Medium: Mezzotint
Dimensions:
Sheet: 38.9 x 29.9 cm
Plate: 38.2 x 28 cm
Credit Line: Purchased, 1888
Object Number: NGI.10334
DescriptionThe publication of prints brought the work of a portraitist to a much wider audience and helped create the cult of the celebrity. Mezzotint was favoured for portraits as its soft, tonal qualities were ideal for reproducing the look of flesh and fabrics. The white line across the image is a printing fault, indicating that the paper was not damped up properly before being fed through the printing press. It is the first state of the print, before the inscription was added. The engraver, James Watson trained at the Dublin Society's Drawing School with Hamilton.
InscriptionIn the plate under image: H.D. Hamilton delin. R. Sayer Excudit Jas Watson fecit / Published as the Act directs 4, Dec.r 1771
under image in graphite: Anne Courteney Countess of Corke
under image in graphite: Anne Courteney Countess of Corke