Art Institute of Chicago

Elizabeth, Duchess of Manchester and Her Son

James Watson (Irish, c. 1740-1790)

Date

c. 1770

Medium

Mezzotint on cream laid paper

Culture

Ireland

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

James Watson created this print for the map- and print-seller Robert Sayer after an original painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Here the Duchess of Manchester is seen reenacting the classical myth of Diana disarming Cupid, in the manner of mythological dress-up that luminaries such as Horace Walpole deemed inappropriate. It was commonplace for engravers to produce prints after popular paintings. In fact, painters often worked in tandem with printmakers in order to market themselves to a wider audience. James Watson in particular engraved pictures after many artists, including 50 portraits after Reynolds alone.

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