| Method | Mezzotint |
| Artist | Thomas Lupton after J.M.W Turner |
| Published | London, Smith, Elder & Co. 15 Waterloo Place, c.1877. |
| Dimensions | Image 240 x 160 mm, Plate 262 x 202 mm, Sheet 365 x 266 mm |
| Notes |
Rawlinson 781. First issue. Acting in the capacity of both publisher and engraver, The Ports of England (1826-8) was conceived by Thomas Lupton and intended to stand as a companion piece to William Bernanrd Cooke's The Rivers of England. J.M.W Turner was the commissioned artist, though of the twenty-four port subjects specified in the brief, only twelve were completed. John Ruskin, great advocate of Turner, closely collaborated with Lupton on the project and provided a profile of each harbour featured within the volume. The faltering series was revived and reissued in 1856 by Ernest Gambart under the title The Harbours of England. Subsequent reprints followed in 1859 and 1872 but these were of an inferior quality. In 1877, Smith, Elder & Co. published what Rawlinson described as 'carefully reworked' and 'superior' versions of the original plates. Thomas Lupton (1791-1873) was an English mezzotinter who produced many works by Turner as well as a host of other notable British painters of the nineteenth-century. A talented engraver, Lupton also played a significant role in the technical advancement of the mezzotint. In the hope of finding a more durable replacement for copper plate, Lupton conducted lengthy experiments on Chinese tutenag, nickel, and steel. The latter proved the most perspicacious. So much so that after 1,500 impressions, a single soft steel plate could still produce remarkable prints. Lupton's endeavour was recognised by the Royal Society of Arts and he was awarded the Isis medal in 1822. In Turner's view of the Kentish port, the composition is governed by Dover Castle. In order to lend the scene more drama, Turner somewhat embellished the precipice on which the stronghold resides. It is an exaggeration which is heightened through Lupton's engraving, for the stormy sky accentuates the chalky hue of the cliffs. A lobster-fishing boat and a new paddle-steamer invoke the activities of the port; be they traditional or modern. Condition: Clean impression. Light time-toning to the borders of the sheet. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £120.00 |
| Stock ID | 27592 |