Grosvenor Prints

Two recent encounters with Jean-Honoré Fragonard's The Swing (London, Wallace Collection ) in the past few days. The first in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby : and the second when cited as an inspiration for English Touring Opera's recent production of Così fan tutte : Both serving as reminders that we currently have an impression of the engraving which Nicolas de Launay made from the painting in the 18th century: Les Hazards Heureux de l'Escarpolette [The Swing] N. de Launay after H. Fragonard [first published c.1780, this impression late 19th century] Engraving partly printed in colour, outside of frame 76 x 60cm. £220

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...

With two exhibitions dedicated to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo taking place simultaneously in London (at Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Wallace Collection ), we have put together a list of prints based on the paintings of the Seville-based artist. Murillo's paintings were highly regarded Britain in the 18th century, hence the number of fine engravings made from them. Examples of his religious paintings in Britain and the time are this Holy Family :   The Holy Family  Thomas Chambars after Murillo  Published by Boydell, 1764  platemark 515 x 390mm  £140 + VAT  At least two of Murillo's paintings were in the famous Walpole collection at Houghton, which was the subject of an ambitious series of engravings published by Boydell before the collection was sold to Catherine the Great. Most of the collection can still be seen at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, including a painting described by some as the The Immaculate Conception and other...