Date of Printing: 1848 • Medium: Mezzotint • Subject Category: Social & Historical Settings • Signed: Unsigned • Period Created: Enlightenment (1700 - 1799) • Plate Size HxWxD cm: 16.5 x 22 • Leaf Paper Size HxW cm: 25.9 x 35 • Style: FOLIO Original Vintage • Print on Verso: Blank on verso • Condition: Fair, with slight foxing • Edition Type: Limited Edition • Paper Type: Heavy Unbleached Cotton Rag • Framed: Print only
This is an exceptionally beautiful mezzotint print revealing lush blacks and textures distinctive to this print technique. Lightfoot has recreated Sir David Wilkie's original painting in oil. Title at the bottom reads "THE GENTLE SHEPHERD; Painted by Sir David Wilkie R.A., Engraved by P. Lightfoot; The Original Painted for Sir Robert Liston, K. R."
From "The Wilkie gallery : a selection of the best pictures of the late Sir David Wilkie, R.A."
Wilkie, David, Sir, 1785-1841, creator; Virtue, George, 1793?-1868, publisher; Clay, Richard, 1789-1877, printer; Holl, Francis, 1815-1884, main engraver
Published 1848
Printed on heavy cotton rag, this print is a beautiful example of the mezzotint style. There is moderate age foxing around the corners, at the edges and there is a very small tear in the paper on the upper left, which when properly matted will not be seen. Age spotting on lower and right sides (see photo).