| Method | Mezzotint |
| Artist | Francis Place after Gerard Soest |
| Published | P. Tempest excudit. c.1693 |
| Dimensions | Image 217 x 193 mm, Sheet 263 x 209 mm |
| Notes |
Richard Tompson (1659 - 1693) Dealer, auctioneer and mezzotint publisher. His plates are mostly after Lely, and can be dated to the late 1670s. He does not seem to have made them himself, but to have relied on Jan van Somer or someone similar. Francis Place (1647 - 1728) York amateur topographical draughtsman, etcher, mezzotinter and ceramicist. Born into a long-established family of landed gentry in county Durham. Being the younger son, he was sent to study law in London, which he did not find congenial. He had a talent for drawing, and found himself working with Hollar, copying the plates of the Dutch edition of Nieuhof's 'Embassy' for Ogilby's translation of 1669. In his letter to Vertue in 1716, which is one of the prime sources for Hollar's life, Place states that although they were intimately acquainted, he was never Hollar's disciple 'nor anyone else's, which was my misfortune'. The bulk of Place's plates were made to earn a living over the next six years, and many were published by Arthur Tooker. Pierce Tempest (1653 - 1717) The most interesting London print publisher of the 1680s and 1690s. Tempest was the sixth son of a family of landed gentry in Tong in Yorkshire; his eldest brother George was to become the first baronet and lived in Broughton Hall. He was responsible for the most interesting series of prints of this period, Laroon's 'Cries', as well as a great range of other material, though he never published a catalogue and so his output remains to be reconstructed. In his later years he spent more time dealing than publishing, and was a principal supplier to the Talmans. One letter to his friend Fancis Place dated 1686 survives, and throws much light on his business: 'Though the ladies have solely left painting mezzotintos [a comment on the vogue for colouring and glass prints], yet they do sell a little - especially fancies, heads [portraits] and bawdy, so I am providing three or four new ones against the Term [the next publishing season, hence the 'Term' catalogues]: two Queens [Mary of Modena, just come to the throne], a new confession, two fancys after Laroon. A gent has lent me a Presbyterian meeting of the same man, which [Paul] van Somer is etching and graving together; it will be rather bigger than the Quakers, it may sell. We are on the old terms, half money half mezzotintos [ie Place was to be paid half in cash and half in prints for the work he was doing for Tempest] ... Barlow is now beginning with some of the large designs of birds, I will have a plate ready against you come up. I have had a Scotch Lord my customer for prints and drawings; he is got 20s into my debt if I can but get it. ... Remember to bring Barlow's six drawings with you, I believe we may have them enlarged to the bigger size ... Hoping you have had a merry Christmas. For my part I have left off wine and strong drink to a plate of new milk at night. I am your assured friend. P.Tempest'. This shows how readily Tempest switched from one sort of print to another, from portraits to bawdy, from satire to birds, and from etching to mezzotint. Chaloner Smith 13.II, Hake 216.II Ex. Col.: Hon. Christopher Lennox-Boyd Condition: Trimmed to plate mark, not affecting image. |
| Framing | mounted |
| Price | £200.00 |
| Stock ID | 25454 |