Portret van Mary Hale als Euphrosyne 1766 - 1790

This is James Watson’s mezzotint print, depicting ‘Portret van Mary Hale als Euphrosyne’. Note how the artist uses mezzotint to achieve subtle gradations of tone, creating a soft, almost dreamlike quality across the surface. The composition centres on Mary Hale, rendered as Euphrosyne, one of the three Graces from Greek mythology. Euphrosyne embodies joy and good cheer, which is reflected through the figures surrounding her, set against a dramatically clouded sky, lending the scene a sense of dynamism. Watson has effectively used the formal elements to construct a narrative. The flowing lines of the drapery, combined with the figures’ gestures, lead the eye through the composition, while the use of light and shadow adds depth and volume. The print operates within a complex semiotic system, drawing on classical allegory and portraiture conventions. Yet, the work also subtly destabilizes these established meanings. By casting a contemporary figure in a mythological role, Watson invites a re-evaluation of beauty and virtue in his own time. The print serves not only as a portrait but also as a commentary on cultural ideals.