Kust van Naxos met Bacchus en Ariadne Possibly 1776

Richard Earlom created this etching titled "Coast of Naxos with Bacchus and Ariadne" in 1776. Earlom was an apprentice to Cipriani, an artist who decorated coaches, and he became a leading exponent of crayon manner, a printmaking technique that allowed engravers to reproduce the appearance of chalk and pastel drawings. This print is after a painting by Claude Lorrain, the famous French landscape painter. This particular image, with its pastoral scene drawn from classical mythology, would have appealed to aristocratic tastes in Britain. The print was published by John Boydell, an engraver and printseller who played a major role in developing a market for prints in England. Boydell sought to promote the work of British engravers such as Earlom, and his activities mark a significant moment in the commercialization of art. To understand this work, we can consult sources such as the Boydell archive and auction records. The image and the business surrounding it reflect a great deal about the institutions of art in 18th century Britain.