Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci by James David Smillie
Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci
James David Smillie
Title
Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci
Artist
James David Smillie
1833 - 1909 (biography)Year
1879
Technique
etching
Image Size
5 x 3" -3/8" platemark; image 2-9/16 x 2-3/16"
Signature
signed in the lower left sheet corner
Edition Size
proof, from an unstated edition
Annotations
annotation in pencil, lower left sheet corner: "Leonardo da Vinci / by J.D.S. after etching by Leo. Flameng / etched for Roberts & Co. Boston"
Reference
Witthoft 10
Paper
cream laid tissue
State
published
Publisher
Roberts & Co., Boston
Inventory ID
BC068
Price
$400.00
Description
This miniature portrait of Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned by the publishers J.H. Roberts & Co. in Boston, MA. It was done after the engraving by French printmaker Leopold Flameng, which had been published two years prior in Philip Gilbert Hamerton's The Intellectual Life (New York, London. MacMillan & Co., 1887). This impression is on a fine ivory tissue wove and notes the purpose of the work for publication in the lower left corner of the sheet. Other proofs can be found on sturdier wove papers.
The author Philip Gilbert Hamerton was himself a printmaker and a strong advocate for contemporary printmaking as an artistic - rather than commerical - endeavor. He was a leader in the Etching Revival in the UK.