William Nutter, The Moralist, Etching, Late 18th Century

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Mezzotint and etching with hand-colouring on paper realized by William Nutter (1750-1802) after J.R. Smith. Not signed, as issued. Very … Read more Mezzotint and etching with hand-colouring on paper realized by William Nutter (1750-1802) after J.R. Smith. Not signed, as issued. Very good condition. An elderly clergyman or moralist, seated beneath a tree, gestures earnestly as he delivers a lecture to two fashionable young ladies. The women are dressed in elegant late-18th-century attire with large hats, gloves, and flowing gowns. The lush outdoor setting frames the contrast between youthful beauty and the old man’s serious admonition. This type of print reflects the Georgian sentimental genre tradition, which aimed to entertain while imparting moral lessons. Mezzotints like this were highly prized decorative works in middle- and upper-class homes. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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