Miss Younge, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Love, and Mr. Waldron, in the Characters of Viola, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Sir Toby Belch, and Fabian (Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4) (March 1, 1774, Met-Objekt 6029)
Original title: Miss Younge, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Love, and Mr. Waldron, in the Characters of Viola, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Sir Toby Belch, and Fabian (Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4)
kurzbeschreibung
John Raphael Smith's 1774 mezzotint brings together four actors in roles from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. This impression is the second of two states and captures Miss Younge, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Love and Mr. Waldron in a scene from the third act. The mezzotint process produces a monochrome image with subtle gradations of gray.
Description
Four male figures in seventeenth-century costume stand in a landscape framed by trees and rocks. The figure on the left wears a dark, ornate gown with a feather in his hair, suggesting higher rank. The two central characters are dressed in elaborate embroidered garments with headwear that brings to mind officers or nobles. On the right appears a more plainly dressed figure in traditional attire. Their varied poses and directions of gaze imply conversation or interaction.
Context
Published on 1 March 1774, the print reproduces a performance scene from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The actors shown were then appearing in London, with Miss Younge playing Viola. In the eighteenth century mezzotint was often used to reproduce paintings and stage depictions. The second state of the print includes revisions made to the first.
Impact
The nuanced shading of the mezzotint gives faces and costumes a pronounced physicality and depth. The near-symmetrical arrangement of the figures in the picture's center creates a calm, theatrical mood. Through its monochrome palette, the details of the garments and the actors' expressions stand out clearly.
Technique
Mezzotint, an intaglio process, begins by roughening the plate with a granulating tool; light areas are created by smoothing and polishing, allowing fine gradations from deep black to delicate gray. This sheet was printed in the second of two states and measures 42.8 × 49.8 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)