The Late Celebrated Antiquary and Gunsmith of Hull
Original title: George Wallis, The Late Celebrated Antiquary and Gunsmith of Hull
kurzbeschreibung
Dated 20 June 1804, John Raphael Smith's mezzotint presents George Wallis, an antiquarian and gunsmith well known in Hull. Wallis appears in dark clothing, wearing spectacles and holding a pistol, set against a shadowy background.
Description
George Wallis has curly hair and wears a dark jacket. His left hand holds a pair of spectacles, his right a pistol. A dark ground makes his face and the objects stand out. Along the lower margin of the sheet are his name, his professions, and his birth and death dates.
Context
In Hull, England, George Wallis worked as a respected antiquarian and gunsmith. Since he died before 1804, the word 'verstorbene' (deceased) in the title is explained. The posthumous print comes from John Raphael Smith, a renowned English mezzotint artist. Portraits of this kind were meant to commemorate and honour notable figures.
Impact
Dignity and learning emanate from this image; the spectacles and pistol point to his dual role as antiquarian and gunsmith. Because the background remains dark, the viewer's attention settles more firmly on the man and his attributes.
Technique
For this sheet Smith chose mezzotint, an intaglio process with fine tonal gradations. It was printed on white wove paper, as was common at the time; this gives a soft, painterly effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)