Giuseppe Marchi (Italian, 1723–1808) after Sir Joshua Reynolds, R.A. (1723–1792)
Mrs. Harriet Bouverie and Mrs. Frances Ann Crewe
Mezzotint Engraving, c. 1770
A refined 18th-century mezzotint engraving by Giuseppe Marchi, after the celebrated painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, R.A., depicting Mrs. Harriet Bouverie and Mrs. Frances Ann Crewe—two prominent figures of British aristocratic society during the Georgian era.
Marchi, one of Reynolds’ most accomplished interpreters in print, captures the painter’s hallmark softness, intimacy, and psychological nuance through the rich tonal gradations of mezzotint. The composition conveys a quiet exchange between the sitters, framed by a classical landscape and architectural elements that reflect Reynolds’ synthesis of portraiture and history painting.
This engraving was published circa 1770 and is recognized as a significant period impression. The same print is held in the permanent collections of the British Museum (acc. no. 1902,1011.3431) and the Yale Center for British Art (acc. no. B1970.3.80), underscoring its scholarly and institutional importance.
Presented unframed, allowing for archival mounting or custom presentation.
Artist: Giuseppe Marchi (after Sir Joshua Reynolds, R.A.)
Date: Circa 1770
Medium: Mezzotint engraving on paper
Subject: British aristocratic portraiture
Dimensions: 17 1/4 in H × 19 7/8 in W
Condition: Good antique condition with expected age-related toning and surface character consistent with 18th-century works on paper
Presentation: Unframed
Museum-validated composition: Held in the British Museum and Yale Center for British Art.
Reynolds circle: Works after Sir Joshua Reynolds remain among the most desirable in British portrait engraving.
Golden-age mezzotint: The mezzotint technique reached its peak in the 18th century and is increasingly scarce in strong impressions.
Decorative & historical appeal: Combines elegance, intimacy, and classical refinement, ideal for both traditional and curated contemporary interiors.
Eighteenth-century mezzotints after Sir Joshua Reynolds represent a stable and historically grounded segment of the prints market. Giuseppe Marchi’s engravings are especially valued for their fidelity to Reynolds’ originals and their rich tonal depth. As institutional interest and scholarly reassessment of works on paper continue to grow, high-quality impressions with clear provenance by association are steadily appreciating.
This example offers collectors the opportunity to acquire a museum-referenced Georgian mezzotint at a fraction of the cost of comparable oil portraits, positioning it as a long-term, legacy-focused acquisition rather than a speculative purchase.
Giuseppe Marchi (Italian, 1723–1808) after Sir Joshua Reynolds, R.A. (1723–1792)
Mrs. Harriet Bouverie and Mrs. Frances Ann Crewe
Mezzotint Engraving, c. 1770
A refined 18th-century mezzotint engraving by Giuseppe Marchi, after the celebrated painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, R.A., depicting Mrs. Harriet Bouverie and Mrs. Frances Ann Crewe—two prominent figures of British aristocratic society during the Georgian era.
Marchi, one of Reynolds’ most accomplished interpreters in print, captures the painter’s hallmark softness, intimacy, and psychological nuance through the rich tonal gradations of mezzotint. The composition conveys a quiet exchange between the sitters, framed by a classical landscape and architectural elements that reflect Reynolds’ synthesis of portraiture and history painting.
This engraving was published circa 1770 and is recognized as a significant period impression. The same print is held in the permanent collections of the British Museum (acc. no. 1902,1011.3431) and the Yale Center for British Art (acc. no. B1970.3.80), underscoring its scholarly and institutional importance.
Presented unframed, allowing for archival mounting or custom presentation.
Artist: Giuseppe Marchi (after Sir Joshua Reynolds, R.A.)
Date: Circa 1770
Medium: Mezzotint engraving on paper
Subject: British aristocratic portraiture
Dimensions: 17 1/4 in H × 19 7/8 in W
Condition: Good antique condition with expected age-related toning and surface character consistent with 18th-century works on paper
Presentation: Unframed
Museum-validated composition: Held in the British Museum and Yale Center for British Art.
Reynolds circle: Works after Sir Joshua Reynolds remain among the most desirable in British portrait engraving.
Golden-age mezzotint: The mezzotint technique reached its peak in the 18th century and is increasingly scarce in strong impressions.
Decorative & historical appeal: Combines elegance, intimacy, and classical refinement, ideal for both traditional and curated contemporary interiors.
Eighteenth-century mezzotints after Sir Joshua Reynolds represent a stable and historically grounded segment of the prints market. Giuseppe Marchi’s engravings are especially valued for their fidelity to Reynolds’ originals and their rich tonal depth. As institutional interest and scholarly reassessment of works on paper continue to grow, high-quality impressions with clear provenance by association are steadily appreciating.
This example offers collectors the opportunity to acquire a museum-referenced Georgian mezzotint at a fraction of the cost of comparable oil portraits, positioning it as a long-term, legacy-focused acquisition rather than a speculative purchase.
