Printing plate
copper plate
Portrait of William Pitt Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst of Arracan
Object number
LDSAL2022.2.2
Artist/Designer/Maker
Posselwhite, James - Engraver
Smith, Herbert Luther - Artist
Smith, Herbert Luther - Artist
Production date
1845
1836
1836
Production place
England
Material
copper
Technique
Stipple
Dimensions
height: 381mm
width: 280mm
width: 280mm
Location
Burlington House - Box A
Content description
Printing plate showing a three-quarter length portrait of William Pitt Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst of Arracan. He is seated on an armchair, slightly turned to the left; his right arm is resting on some papers on the table. Below the portrait are the production information and title. The reverse of the plate is prepared with a mezzotint rocker.
Inscriptions
Inscription content
EARL AMHERST.
From the Original Painting in the Collection of the
Rev.d Tho. Streatfield of Charls' Edge.
From the Original Painting in the Collection of the
Rev.d Tho. Streatfield of Charls' Edge.
Inscription content
HERBERT L. SMITH PINXT. 1836
Inscription content
JAMES POSSELWHITE SCULPT. 1845
References
Reference (controlled)
Betti, Chiara. “Lost Treasures Resurface: The Untold Story of the Society of Antiquaries’ Printing Plates.” The Antiquaries Journal 104 (2024): 304–42. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003581524000179.
Printing plate of a portrait of Earl Amherst, three-quarter length. The reverse of the plate is prepared with a mezzotint rocker.
The plate is listed in a handlist of the woodblocks and copper plates commissioned by Thomas Streatfeild. The handlist was found in one of the Society's drawers with the woodblock. The plate is described as "Portrait of Earl Amherst, large".
The engraving is after a portrait formerly in the collection of Thomas Streatfeild, who, besides making drawings himself, regularly employed engravers, wood engravers, and artists to copy the portraits of Kent's nobility. Herbert Luther Smith was one of the artists employed by Streatfeild (see Archaologia Cantiana vol. 3 p. 138).
The printing plates and woodblocks commissioned by Streatfeild for his "History of Kent" were donated by Mrs Streatfeild (possibly daughter-in-law) to the Society in 1890 (see Proceedings, May 1st, 1890, p. 149).
Digitised thanks to the kind donation of Dr Maria Aresin.
The engraving is after a portrait formerly in the collection of Thomas Streatfeild, who, besides making drawings himself, regularly employed engravers, wood engravers, and artists to copy the portraits of Kent's nobility. Herbert Luther Smith was one of the artists employed by Streatfeild (see Archaologia Cantiana vol. 3 p. 138).
The printing plates and woodblocks commissioned by Streatfeild for his "History of Kent" were donated by Mrs Streatfeild (possibly daughter-in-law) to the Society in 1890 (see Proceedings, May 1st, 1890, p. 149).
Digitised thanks to the kind donation of Dr Maria Aresin.