Miss Meyer as Hebe: P.15021-R

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Miss Meyer as Hebe

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Jacobé, Johann
Publisher: Boydell, John
Painter: Reynolds, Joshua (After)

Entities

Description

After the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1771; exh. R.A. 1772, no. 205 as 'A Portrait of a Young Lady in the Character of Hebe'; Mannings, 1247; National Trust, Ascott). Mary Meyer was the daughter of Jeremiah Meyer (1735-89), miniature painter and founder member of the Royal Academy. As Hebe, who, in Greek mythology, is the daughter of Zeus, the goddess of youth and cup-bearer to the gods. Seen full-length standing in the clouds, barefoot and wearing classical drapery which billows around her. Facing away and looking back towards the viewer over her right shoulder. She holds a cup in front of her. An eagle, representing her father, Zeus, perches beside her to the right.

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Charles Brinsley Marlay, 1912

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1912) by Marlay, Charles Brinsley

Dating

18th Century#
Production date: 1780-08-01 AD 1780

Note

Mezzotint. Scratched letter proof with artists' names. Trimmed to the platemark and within the platemark along the lower edge meaning that the publisher's details are missing. In the inscription space at lower left: 'Sir Joshua Reynolds Pinxit' and at lower right: 'John Jacobe Sculpsit'. Inscribed on the verso in graphite: 'CBM [Charles Brinsley Marlay]; 'Miss Meyer'; 'J.C.S.5 I [Chaloner Smith]'; '21/- [21 shillings]'. The missing publication details of the first state are described in Chaloner Smith as: 'Published Aug 1st 1780 by John Boydell Engraver in Cheapside London'. See BM 1902,1011.2805 for a fully-lettered impression.

School or Style

Austrian

Techniques used in production

Mezzotint

Identification numbers

Accession number: P.15021-R
Primary reference Number: 240083
Chaloner Smith: 5.I (p.721)
O'Donoghue: 1
Nagler (Künstler-Lexicon): 6.15 (p.387)
Stable URI