Grosvenor Prints

The idea of pictures being composed in series has been employed by many artists and printmakers, either to illustrate existing narratives or to create new ones. One of the best-known artists to employ this device was Hogarth, whose 'modern moral subjects' such as the Harlot's Progress , Industry and Idleness and Four Stages of Cruelty track the progress (always an ambiguous word in Hogarth's usage) of characters through multiple stages. But while Hogarth was an innovator in many ways, his series also formed part of a well-established tradition of representing narratives in sequence. Many artists and printmakers were involved in elaborate projects to illustrate literary works , as Hogarth himself had been. Sometimes these were small sets, such as these atmospheric illustrations to Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered (to see more images from each series click on the links): Six scenes from 'Jerusalem Delivered' [Various engravers, including Edward Rooker an...

The National Portrait Gallery is currently exhibiting a selection of William Nicholson's striking portraits in a temporary display , including these prints of Whistler and Sarah Bernhardt: James McNeill Whistler. William Nicholson. [London, 1899 by William Heinemann]. Lithographic reproduction of a hand-coloured woodcut. Printed area: 245 x 220mm. (9¾ x 8¾"). Foxing to edges; mounted on board as issued. From the folio of twelve portraits by William Nicholson published in 1899. Colin Campbell, 'William Nicholson: The Graphic Works': 22B [Ref: 28326]   £160.00   (£192.00 incl.VAT)   Sarah Bernhardt Lithographic reproduction of a hand-coloured woodcut , 250 x 240mm Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt, published in the New Review in 1897. Colin Campbell, 'William Nicholson: The Graphic Works': 20B £65 (£78 incl. VAT) To see other prints by Nichol...

In the week of Margaret Thatcher's death, a selection of portraits of some of her predecessors as Prime Minister: Sir Robert Walpole [not technically Prime Minister but generally regarded as having held the post de facto 1721-42]:  Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford. Prime Minister to King George the First, & King George the Second. In the Blue Damask Bed Chamber at Houghton. Vanloo pinxit. James Watson Sculpsit. Published Jan.y 1.st 1788, by John & Josiah Boydell, No.90, Cheapside, London. Mezzotint, very fine with small margins. Plate 502 x 349mm. 19¾ x 13¾". NPG: D39367. Goodwin: 131. CS: 149. [Ref: 27338]   £480 Henry Pelham (1743-54):   The Right Honourable Henry Pelham, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and John Roberts Esq.r. J.Shackleton Pinx.t R.Houston fecit. Printed and Sold by Jos. Edmondson, at his House in Warwick Street, Golden Square, St James's. [n.d., c.1752.] Mezzotint. 395 x...

A list of prints which include maps, plans, globes or charts as decorative elements or for their value as symbols: A map of Mildmay Fane with a map behind him which shows the area between his estate at Apethorpe (at the bottom) and Hull (at the top):   The Efiges of the right Honnorable Mildmay Earl of Westmorland Baron LeDespencer & Burghersh and Knight of the Bath etc. JBN Invent [intials in the form of a monogram]. P. Williamson Sculp. 1662. Engraving, with large margins. Plate 260 x 203mm. 10¼ x 8". Portrait of Mildmay Fane, half length in an oval wreath, short beard and moustache, wearing cap, collar and sash; curtain to the left, and map of part of Lincolnshire on the right. Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland, (1602-1665) was an English nobleman, politician and writer. Ex Collection: Norman Blackburn. NPG: D8277. [Ref: 24082]   £140.00   (£168.00 incl.VAT) ...