| Method | Mezzotint |
| Artist | James Watson after John Riley |
| Published | London, Publish'd according to Act of Parliament Nor. 1st 1775, by J. Watson and sold by B. Clowes No. 18 Gutter Lane Cheapside. |
| Dimensions | Image 407 x 329 mm, Plate 456 x 300 mm, Sheet 476 x 351 mm. |
| Notes |
The Rev. Dr. Richard Busby (1606–1695) was an English Anglican priest who served as head master of Westminster School for more than fifty-five years. The young man beside Busby has been identified as Edward Wells (1667 - 1730). Wells was an English mathematician, geographer, and controversial theologian. In 1680, Wells was admitted to Westminster School, so would have attended the school under Busby. James Watson (c.1740-1790) was born in Ireland. As a young man he moved to London, where he studied mezzotint engraving. He became one of the leading mezzotint engravers of the day, including fifty-six plates after the paintings of Joshua Reynolds. The majority of Watson's work was produced for Sayer, Boydell and other printsellers but he published some plates himself. Watson exhibited at the Society of Artists from 1762 to 1775, during which time he was regarded as a master in his field. John Riley (1646-1691) began practising painting at a young age, which probably meant he was independently wealthy. He became a fashionable society portrait painter. At the height of his success, in the 1680s, Riley charged £40 for a full-length portrait, a considerable amount of money at this time. In 1689, together with Godfrey Kneller, he was appointed Principal Painter to King William III and Queen Mary, though there are no known portraits by him of either as sovereign. Chaloner Smith 22 i/ii, Russell 22, Goodwin - James Watson 106, O Donoghue 1 i/ii, Lennox-Boyd ii/iii Ex. Col.: Hon. Christopher Lennox-Boyd Condition: Good clean rich impression. Light crease to left hand side of image. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £350.00 |
| Stock ID | 34889 |