Grosvenor Prints

 A very Happy Birthday to Harry Potter from Grosvenor Prints. Travestissemens. No.7. Magicienne . To celebrate both Harry Potter and J.K Rowling's birthday, we thought we would search through our collection to find something of interest for you Hogwart's fans out there.  This rare engraving is a hand coloured example showing a female magician preforming. The costume is decorated with the devil, snakes and daggers, typical symbolism attached to female magicians of the time. As well as associations with Witchcraft. Published for the series 'Travestissemens' by La Mèsangère between 1827 and 1830. Follow our Instagram to see daily posts about our stock. 

A mezzotint is a printing method developed in the 17th century. Most prints of this nature have a soft gradation of tone as well as rich, velvety blacks, which is unique to the method. How they are made; 1) The print maker would take typically a copper or steel sheet, and indent the surface with small pits. The instrument used looks like a toothed metal knuckle duster. These pits hold the ink, if printed now the paper would be completely black. 2) To create the soft graduation of tone, the plate will now by burnished to smooth the surface. This lessens the plates ink holding ability. This method creates the iconic dark and light tones. This method was highly popular to reproduce painted portraits, notably Reynolds'  sitters. Below are some examples form our website. The Princes in the Tower. Painted by John Everett Millais R.A. Engraved by Samuel Cousins R.A. London Published 16th March 1879 by The Fine Art Society (Limited) 146, New Bond Street. Mezzotint.

Our newest catalogue is out now! The listing includes a small collection of Herbert Dicksee prints, ranging from domestic pets to wild species. They are beautiful black and white signed etchings. In addition to these, we have some 1720's wonderful engravings of the armorials of the 23 Colleges and Schools in Oxford University from Omersley Court and other very large full size armorials. There are also some excellent examples of overseas views including America, Africa and the Pacific as well as satire, ephemera etc. An e-catalogue of our Dicksee collection can be browsed on issuu .