New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-30
FROM FAMOUS CANVASES.
A Rare Exhibition of Mezzotints at
Lemon Library.

A noteworthy exhibition OF early English nezzo-
unts, which opened yesterday may be enjoyed at
the Benox Library 1t illustrates the development
OF mezzotint engraving in Great Britain partcu-
larry during its great period, about 17701S00. and.
incidentally. the prints reproduce many famous
canvases As most Of them are portraits the feat
ures and costumes of numerous prominent and In
teresting personages perpetuated in black and
white. Deineations OF British types. child life.
manners and customs add their notes OF interest.
The mezzotints all after British painters.
excepting number after Gilbert Stuart. drawn
from the portfolio full Of reproductions of paint
fngs by that American artist collected by s. P.
Avery, and added by him TO the important collec-
ton of prints presented by him to the Lenox
Library.
The British mezzotints are drawn from the COL
lections Of J. Pierpont Morgan. who lent half of
them; John L. Cadwalader J. Harsen Purdy, z. G.
Kennedy and Richard NJ. Hoe and from the s. P.
Avery collection belonging to the library While
the display is particularly rich in prints of the
great period Of mezzotint art in England. about
I77e-ls00, earlier work is also represented.
The exhibition. opening with prints by BIooteling
Van Somers and others Of the late seventeenth
century. is followed by Simon and others of the
early eighteenth century and leads Up TO the group
OF engraVers whose work forms the glory Of Brit
ish mezzotinting. There interesting examples
Of the work of Dean, Dickinson. Grocer Jones
Valentine Green, James and Thomas Watson and
John Raphael Smith, who has alcove to him
self. and among those who opened the last century
John Young. s. ". Reynolds and c. Turner
The exhibition contains many fine impressions.
The study OF British painters OF the period.
whose works are perpetuated in these prints is
suggested by the consideration Of this speciality
in British engraving. There is q good representa-
ton OF Sir Joshua Reynolds and Lawrence. Hopp-
ner and MorIand may also be studied at the exhi-
bition, as well other artists who aided in illus
trating the tendencies OF British painting in their
da-.
AS most OF the prints shown are portraits. the
personality Of the sitter contributes important
element Of interest Interesting. too, matters Of
costume customs landscape accessories, tastes and
fads, with pictures OF child life. including those
Of children in action. as bathing and buying fruit
from barrow
Prints that attract attention are those Of per-
sonaGes depicted in characters other than their
own For example. Elizabeth. Duchess of Man
chester, with her George Viscount Mande-
vile. Diana and Cupid" by ]. Watson. after
Reynolds; Master Crewe. as Henry VIII. by John
Raphael Smith, after Reynolds; Lady Caroline
Montague as Winter and Mrs. Siddons, in the
character Of cara, after Lawrence.
together in one case may be seen a print Of
Charles II, Catherine OF Braganza, Queen Of
Charles H. and Oliver Cromwell all after Sir Peter
Ley. OF American Revolutionary interest is Miss
Sneyd Serena" after Romney. and lent by
J. Pterpont Morgan. Miss sneyd Andres
hancee.
Other noteworthy rnezzotints are "Georgtana.
Duchess OF DevCnshre." after Gainsborough: The
Morland; Cupid as a Idnkboy,' after Reynolds;
Mrs Elizabeth Ellington, by Robert Dunkarton,
after John DOwnman. lent by J. Pierpont Morgan;
Georgiana, Duchess OF Devonshire, as Cynthia, ,"
by Valentine Green. after Maria Cosway; David
Garrick' after Gainsborough; John Beresford, -
by Charles Howard Hodges. after Gilbert Stuart.
from the S. P Avery collection; Mrs. Jordan in the
character OF 'Hypolita," after Hoppner, lent by
John l. Cadwalader; the Hon Mrs Tollemache, in
the character OF Miranda" after Reynolds; Miss
Via FrI Eba0bp rIa 2
tie girl with lamb in her arms. by Eliza
beth Judkins after Reynolds. lent by J. Pier
pont Morgan: Lady Hamilton emma Hart)
Nature" after ROnney: Children at
Play" after Beechey; William Wycherley." after
Sir Peter LEY; The Fruit Barrow ovation
family after H. Walton; Mrs. Ellington as st
Cecilia" after Reynolds of which the original
painting is in the New-York Public Library
Children Bathing CThe Hoppner children), after
Hoppner; Samuel Johnson after Reynolds;
Frances Lady Whitmore," by Thomas Watson,
after Sir Peter LEY lent by J. Pierpont Morgan;
Mrs. Gwyn," after Hoppner; Mrs. Elizabeth
Hartley, in the character of 'Elfrida," after J.
Nixon, lent by John L. Cadwaader; Lady Sarah
Bunbury Sacrificing to the Graces," after Rey-
nolds; The Nutbrown Maid" after F. Cotes;
Lawrence Sterne," after Reynolds; William Bur
ton Conyngham,'' after Gilbert Stuart, from the
S P Avery collection; Mrs Musters "Hebe. 4"
after Reynolds; &C. J. Fox" after Opie, lent by
E G. Kennedy; Shooting after Sartorious; THE
Earl of St Vincent" after Gilbert Stuart. from the
S P Avery collection, and John, Lord Eldon,"
after Lawrence.
This important exhibition Of mezzotints was ar
ranged By Frank Weitenkampf curator Of the
print department of the Lenox Library, and is free
to the public The autographed side has not
been overlooked. There is a casefUl Of books on
the history and technique Of mezzotint on indtvd-
ual ergravers, on engravings after individual ar
lists, and books illustrated in mezzotint