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 ALIX, P. M after A HICKEL
William Pitt
Paris: Published by Drouhin, circa 1780. Colour printed mezzotint with plate registration points. Proof before letters. In excellent condition apart from some minor foxing. Small skillfully mended tear on left margin. Image size: 15 x 11 3/8 inches. Plate mark: 16 7/8 x 12 7/8 inches. Sheet size: 18 9/16 x 14 7/16 inches.
A magnificent French colour printed portrait of William Pitt, the influential British Prime Minister.
William Pitt is considered one of the most influential Prime Ministers in British history. During his time in office he restored British confidence and prosperity after the American Revolution and was a resolute leader of the nation in the war against revolutionary France. Pitt's political objective was to revive the national spirit through peace and economy. He was an excellent financial manager, and he restored Britain's prestige in Europe. Progressive in his politics, he adamantly argued for the abolition of the slave trade, but his entreaties were rejected by Parliament. During his time in office Australia and India were established as British colonies, and a grand period of British supremacy began. Pitt was a superb speaker, and an intelligent caring politician.
This magnificent proof print shows the dignity of this great politician and is a wonderful example of early colour printing in France. This method of reproducing colour was a painstaking and meticulous process which produced truly breathtaking images but was soon abandoned for the faster "à la poupée" technique. The colour effect was achieved by inking separate plates, each with a different colour, and then laying them onto the paper using registration holes to line up the image. As in this lovely portrait of Pitt, the process achieves a sense of tonal variation and subtlety which is unrivaled with later colour printing.
O'Donoghue, Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits... in the British Museum (Supplement) 1; Not in Chaloner Smith or Russell.
#8101 $750.00  
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