Francesco Bartolozzi original 1791 colour print after John Howes, period frame

Size:  Frame 26.5 x 24 cm, print inside mount 11 x 9.5 cm

Condition:  print and frame in excellent condition.

This charming print, in a period oak bevelled frame, is a stipple engraving and etching made by Francesco Bartolozzi after the painter John Howes.  It was published by John Matthews in 1791.

The print is a colour print. The technique used for this type of printing involved inking the copper plate in different colours. It was a laborious process and such colour prints are much rarer, and more subtle in their tone, than monochrome prints with later hand colour.

Francesco Bartolozzi came to England from Italy and established himself as the pre-eminent engraver of the late 18th century, becoming the first member of the Royal Academy who was not a painter.  The speciality he is most associated with is stipple engraving, which uses dots rather than lines and is particularly good for depicting flesh tones.

John Howes (1750-1833) was and English painter famed mainly for his miniatures.