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WATSON, Thomas after Sir Joshua REYNOLDS
[Mrs. Hardinge]
London: Published for Watson & Dickinson, No. 158 New Bond Street, Feb. 10, 1780. Mezzotint. Published without title. State ii/vi, with the artists names and publication line only in engraved letters. Printed on laid paper. In good condition with the exception of being trimmed on the platemark. Tipped onto contemporary backing sheet, three small skillfully mended tears in title area. Image size: 16 1/8 x 12 15/16 inches. Sheet size: 17 7/8 x 13 inches.
An exquisite image of Mrs. Hardinge by the master engraver Thomas Watson.
In tone and texture Watson perfectly captures the fragile beauty of Reynolds' delicate portrait of Mrs. Hardinge. Thomas Watson was considered a leader during the golden day of English mezzotint. His bold style focuses on the play between light and shade, forming a surface consistency that is a beauty to behold. He began his career in London where, for a short time, he worked as a printseller in New Bond Street with fellow engraver William Dickinson. Although Watson was an accomplished stipple engraver, he was renowned for his talents as a mezzotinter. He worked from pictures by the masters of his age, artists such as Reynolds, Dance and West, from which he created inspired beautiful images.
This state appears to be the second out of six states, except that the inscription space is cleaned, which is not described by either Chaloner Smith, Russell, or Lennox-Boyd. States four, five, and six are later impressions.
Goodwin, Thomas Watson, James Watson, Elizabeth Judkins 39, ii/iii; Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits 18ii/ii; Russell, English Mezzotint Portraits, and their States 18, ii/iv; O'Donoghue, Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits... in the British Museum 3; Lennox-Boyd & Stogdon, state ii/vi
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#7953 $950.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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