Portret van George III van het Verenigd Koninkrijk c. 1751 - 1756

This print of Prince George, later King George III, was made by James McArdell, using a technique called mezzotint. It’s an intaglio process, meaning that the image is incised into a metal plate, in this case copper. Mezzotint is special because the entire plate is roughened first, creating a rich, dark ground. The artist then works back into this, burnishing areas to create lighter tones. Look closely, and you’ll see the effect – a soft, almost velvety texture, particularly in the prince’s robe and the draped background. This wasn’t just a technical feat; it was a commercial one. Mezzotints like this were relatively quick to produce, and satisfied a growing demand for affordable images. McArdell was one of the leading printmakers of his day, helping to popularize portraiture through mass production. The image of royalty was thus circulated, consumed, and made part of everyday visual culture. This speaks to a new kind of visibility made possible by industrialized image-making.