Thomas Gainsborough “Portrait of Mrs Andrew” Color Mezzotint Engraving


Thomas Gainsborough (christened 14 May 1727 — 2 August 1788) was one of the most famous portrait and landscape painters’ etcher and draughtsman of 18th century Britain.
Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. His father was a weaver involved with the wool trade. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let him go to London to study art in 1740.

In London he first trained under engraver Hubert Gravelot but eventually became associated with William Hogarth and his school. Year later he would work in executing a small numbers of original etched work of landscape studies.

Thomas Gainsborough “Portrait of Mrs Andrew” first pained in 1748—49 and later engraved by Clifford R. James , Published in a rare and limited edition of Color Mezzotint Engraving, London 1923. This treasure measures 12.50 inches by 19.50 approximately and in good condition. Little discoloration on verso with a light spot of foxing, not visible on the front side of the art work. Pencil signed by the engraver.

Clifford R. James was among a handful of mezzotint engravers of the earlier 20th Century mezzotint engravers and was considered among one of the best of the period.