Price: $5,000.00
SKU: 82223
ARTIST: Rev. Matthew William Peters
MEDIUM: Mezzotint engravings, printed in color and finished by hand.
DATE: 1786.
EDITION SIZE: Image size of each, 14 7/8 x 17 1/8" (37.7 x 43.5 cm).
DESCRIPTION: Engraved by J.R. Smith Mezzatinto Engraver to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales,. "Fortune Teller" and William Ward "Gamesters." A wonderful pair of color printed mezzotints after the painting by Rev. Matthew William Peters, R.A. Peters made a name for himself by painting a series of quasi-erotic images of women. These controversial pictures were eagerly reproduced by industrious printmaker/publishers such as Smith and Ward and caused a flurry of curious customers to hurry to the London print-shops. Ordained in 1781, Peters quickly denounced his early erotic pictures as immoral. His work changed, eliminating the erotic overtones but continuing with his fascination of the depiction of human emotions. In the "Gamesters," Peters shows three well-dressed men. Lord Courtenay is on the left and Thomas Rowlandson, the great caricaturist on the right playing cards at small, tapestry-covered table. Behind Courtenay, a gentleman points at his hand of cards and raising three fingers behind Courtenay's head, which Rowlandson sees, concealing the ace of diamonds behind his back. In the "Fortune Teller," a well-dressed young lady is having her fortune told.
ADDITIONAL INFO: The prints are deluxe printings, being printed in color and finished by hand. They are normally seen printed in black ink. Sold as a pair only.
CONDITION: Both are in good condition, save for some minor overall foxing. "Fortune Teller" has a tear in the upper margin, 3/4" into the image.
REFERENCE: D'Oench, Copper into Gold: Prints by John Raphael Smith 1751-1812 p. 224, No. 274. (Fortune Teller)
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