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Mezzotint

Scope note

Intaglio process in which the surface of the plate is methodically roughened with a rocker to produce a dark background; areas may then be lightened using various scrapers. Produces a printed image having a continuous tonal range. PRTT

This term has 4,657 records attributed within our system.

Term type

AAT
Technique
Material

Getty AAT term number

300053233

Broader Terms used

<engraving (printmaking process)>

Term used for

black manner
engraving, mezzotint
manière anglaise
manière noire
manner, black
mezzotint engraving

Created

14yrs ago

Connected records

An image of Print

Sir Stephen Fox

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Simon, John
Publisher: Simon, John
Painter: Backer, John James (After)

An image of Print

Stephen Hales

Maker(s)

Printmaker: McArdell, James
Painter: Hudson, Thomas (After)

An image of Print

Isabella (van Aerson), Countess of Auverquerque

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Publisher: Smith, John
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)

An image of Print

Robert Robinson

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Spilsbury, Jonathan
Painter: Downman, John (After)

An image of Print

Caroline, Queen of George II

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Publisher: Smith, John
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)

An image of Print

Grinling Gibbons with his wife, Elizabeth Gibbons

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Painter: Closterman, John (After)

An image of Print

John Hill

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Hudson, Henry

An image of Print

James II. King of England, when Duke of York

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Publisher: Tompson, Richard (publisher)
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)

An image of Print

Josiah Hort

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Miller, Andrew
Painter: Wills, James (After)

An image of Print

Maria Vaillant

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Vaillant, Wallerant
Publisher: Blooteling, Abraham
Painter: Vaillant, Wallerant (After)

An image of Print

Josias van de Kapelle

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Verkolje, Jan I
Painter: Vaillant, Wallerant (After)

An image of Print

Lucy Loftus (née Brydges), Viscountess Lisburne

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)

An image of Print

Algernon Sidney

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown

An image of Print

Anthony Henley

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)

An image of Print

John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Publisher: Tompson, Richard (publisher)
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)

An image of Print

Sir John Jennings

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Faber, John II
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)
Publisher: Bowles, Thomas II

An image of Print

Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton

Maker(s)

Printmaker: White, George
Painter: Murray, Thomas (After)

An image of Print

Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Watson, Thomas
Publisher: Watson, Thomas
Publisher: Shropshire, Walter
Painter: Gardner, Daniel (After)

An image of Print

Dorothy Countess of Westmoreland

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Beckett, Isaac
Painter: Riley, John (After)
Publisher: Smith, John

An image of Print

Daniel Turner

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Faber, John II

Hector Rose

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Murphy, John
Painter: Dupont, Richard Gainsborough (After)

An image of Print

Caroline Spencer, Duchess of Marlborough, when Lady Russell

Maker(s)

Printmaker: McArdell, James
Painter: Reynolds, Joshua (After)

An image of Print

Anthony Leigh or the Spanish Fryer

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Publisher: Smith, John

An image of Print

Constantia Smithson (née Hare)

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Publisher: Smith, John
Painter: Verelst, Herman (After)

Citation for print

This page can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Terminology definition for: mezzotint" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/terminology/term-29420 Accessed: 2025-12-12 14:20:27

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/terminology/term-29420|title=Terminology definition for: mezzotint|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-12 14:20:27|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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