A SET OF SEVEN 'HAMPTON COURT BEAUTIES' BY JOHN SMITH AFTER SIR GODFREY KNELLER.
 

A Set of seven 17th Century 'Hampton Court Beauties' Mezzotints By Jiohn Faber After Sir Godrey Kneller.

These fine and large scale mezzotints are based on the paintings of court ''beauties'' that had been commissioned from Godfrey Kneller by Queen Mary in 1689 (in emulation of the series made by Lely for her mother).

They feature: Queen Mary II of England (1662–1694), Frances Whitmore, Lady Middleton (c. 1666-94), Mary Capel (née Bentinck), Countess of Essex (1679-1726), Carey Mordaunt (née Fraizer), Countess of Peterborough and Monmouth (circa 1658-1709), Margaret Cecil, Countess of Ranelagh (1672-1728), Isabella FitzRoy (née Bennet), Duchess of Grafton (1667-1723), Dodington Montagu (née Greville), Duchess of Manchester (1672-1721),

After studying in Amsterdam under Rembrandt and Bol and in Rome under Bernini and Maratta, Kneller had come to Britain in 1676 to see Van Dyck''s work, and had soon become the country''s leading portrait-painter. In 1692 he was knighted; and in 1711 he set up the first Academy of art in Britain.

During his lifetime Kneller took great interest in engravings after his work. The present set were made after his death, and were among John Faber''s most celebrated mezzotints. After Faber''s death the plates were acquired by John Boydell.

We currently have a set of seven from this series available and each is presented in its original antique ebonised frame with sanded gilt slip, under its original ripple glass.

Each plate size: Approx 20” x 13.75” / 51cm x 34,5cm. Each framed size: 25” x 18.5” / 63cm x 48cm.

Price: £3800 (set of seven)