Portret van Samuel Richardson 1747 - 1765

This mezzotint, created by James McArdell between 1747 and 1765, portrays the English novelist Samuel Richardson. The portrait depicts Richardson in a three-quarter length pose, standing against a backdrop of a garden setting. Mezzo-tint is a printmaking technique that creates subtle tonal gradations by using a metal plate. The image showcases the masterful skill of McArdell, a leading mezzotint engraver of the 18th century, who captured Richardson's likeness with great precision and detail. The artwork, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into the life of a prominent figure of the English Enlightenment, Samuel Richardson, known for his epistolary novels.