Portret van Arthur Capell 1683

Edward Lutterell produced this mezzotint portrait of Arthur Capell, Earl of Essex, in England in 1683. Mezzotint, a printmaking technique which creates an image from tone rather than line, was a relatively new method at this time. Consider how Lutterell uses the velvety darkness of the mezzotint to convey the sitter's nobility. The flowing wig, fashionable clothing, and inscribed title are visual markers of Capell’s status. Yet, the portrait also evokes the complex social and political context of its time. Capell had been imprisoned in the Tower of London for alleged involvement in the Rye House Plot, a scheme to assassinate King Charles II, and died in mysterious circumstances only months before this print was made. As historians, we must look beyond the surface. Archival records, letters, and pamphlets from the period can help us understand how contemporaries viewed Capell and the events surrounding his death. Through careful research, we can begin to understand the social and institutional forces that shaped both the life of the sitter and the creation of this portrait.