Portret van een vrouw, mogelijk Mary Richards 1768

Jonathan Spilsbury created this mezzotint portrait, possibly of Mary Richards, in 18th-century Britain. The oval frame and the sitter’s refined attire speak to the conventions of portraiture at the time, reflecting the sitter's social standing. Mezzotint, a printmaking technique achieving tonal effects, was highly valued in British art. It allowed for mass production of portraits, increasing access to art beyond the elite. Spilsbury, as a portraitist, played a role in shaping the visual culture of his time. The print captures a moment in British social history. The Royal Academy, founded in 1768, formalized artistic training and exhibition, reflecting the growing professionalization of art. Prints like these circulated images of the gentry, influencing notions of beauty and status. As historians, examining the print’s provenance, exhibition history, and its reception can deepen our understanding of 18th-century British society and its artistic institutions.