James Watson, “The Revd. Mr Zachariah Mudge, Prebend of Exeter”, 1765, after Joshua Reynolds

James Watson (1730? –1790)

“The Revd. Mr Zachariah Mudge, Prebend of Exeter”, 1765

Edward Hamilton (1874) gives the following insights about the Reverend Zachariah Mudge: “Prebendary of Exeter; Vicar of St. Andrew's, Plymouth; author of an ingenious Essay for a New Version of the Psalms. Reynolds' earliest friend.” (p. 40; see digitised copy via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/catalogueraisonn00hamiiala/page/40/mode/2up)

Technical Details & Condition:

Mezzotint on fine 18th-century French laid paper. The sheet features a classic Auvergne countermarked structure: one half of the sheet bears the “T [Bell-Tower symbol] DUPUY FIN” watermark of the famous Thomas Dupuy paper mill, while the corresponding half displays the regional countermark “AUVERGNE 1742”. While the watermark bears the mandatory tax year of 1742, the paper itself dates between 1742 and the late 1780s due to prolonged regional use of the 1742 mould layout.

This sheet survives with generous full margins well beyond the platemark. This publication state was issued in London between 1765 and 1766 by the publishers Ryland & Bryer (William Wynne Ryland and Henry Bryer), after the celebrated oil portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792).

The impression is strong, deep, and well-printed, beautifully retaining the rich, velvety black tones characteristic of a fresh mezzotint plate. Aside from minor, professional spot-touches to tiny dot breaks within the deep velvety areas of the mezzotint, the sheet is in very good condition—completely free of tears, folds, significant stains, or handling marks.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 39.9 x 31.5 cm
• Platemark: 33.2 x 23 cm
• Image borderline: 28.1 x 23 cm

In-Plate Lettering (below the image borderline):

• Left: “Reynolds pinx^t.”
• Centre: “The Rev^d_ʺ M^r_ʺ Zachariah Mudge, Prebend of Exeter &c.&c. / Sold by Ryland & Bryer at the Kings Arms Cornhill.”
• Right: “Watson fecit.”

References:

• Edward Hamilton, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Engraved Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., London, P & D Colnaghi and Co.: 1874 edition, p. 40 (for biographical details; see digitised copy via Internet Archive); see also the expanded 1884 edition, p. 52, state III
• Gordon Goodwin, “British Mezzotinters: Thomas Watson, James Watson and Elizabeth Judkins”, 1904, London, A H Bullen, pp. 81-208
• British Museum: Museum No. 1902,1011.6475 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1902-1011-6475)

Price & Shipping:

AU$267 (approximately US$183,72 / €161.05 / £138.72), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this magnificent mezzotint—please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

This print has been sold

Paul Sandby’s etching, “In the Meadows near Edinburgh”, 1751

Paul Sandby (1731–1809)

“In the Meadows near Edinburgh” (aka “The Meadows”; “The Promenade in the Park”), 1751, from the series, “Scottish Landscapes (second set, vertical), published in 1765 by Ryland and Bryer (fl.1765–1772) in a folio of one hundred of Sandby's etchings. “A Collection of Etchings” (see John Bonehill & Stephen Daniels [eds.] 2009, “Paul Sandby (1731–1809): Picturing Britain”, London, Royal Academy of Arts. p. 104).

Etching on buff (presumably laid) paper, trimmed close to the image borderline and backed with a support sheet to provide wider margins.

Size: (support sheet) 34.6 x 28.5 cm; (sheet) 22.3 x 17.4 cm; (image borderline) 21.5 x 16.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate outside the image borderline: (lower left) “Paul Sandby Fecit 1751”; lower right) “K”; (upper right [partly trimmed]) “4”.

Gunn 81 (Ann V Gunn 2016, “The Prints of Paul Sandby (1731–1809): A Catalogue Raisonnae”, Turnhout, Harvey Miller, Brepols, p. 137, cat. no. 81).

Gunn (2016) advises "The figures of the strolling man and woman are from a drawing in the Royal collections (RL 14470, Oppé 1947, no 223). They appear here reversed” (see BM Curator’s comment: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2019-7015-600).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “View in the meadows in Edinburgh; a couple approaching along a path bordered by thick trees on the left, with other ladies and gentlemen further off on the path, which recedes into the sunlight, diagonally to right. 1751/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1904-0819-500).

See also the description of this print (not illus.) offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.169971.  

Condition: a well-printed impression trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline (partly trimming the number “4” at upper right) and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this exceptionally rare etching that is one of Sandby’s earliest prints executed at the age of 20, for the total cost of AU$326 (currently US$244.01/EUR220.43/GBP185.77 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this very beautiful etching exemplifying Sandby's early interest in subtle tonal nuances that he was later to advance with his celebrated explorations of aquatint, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.