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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

Miss Chambers

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John Raphael
Publisher: Smith, John Raphael
Painter: Smith, John Raphael (After)

An image of Print

Lady Grace Gethin

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Faithorne, William, the Younger
Painter: Dickson, A (After)
Publisher: Cooper, Edward

An image of Print

Constantyn Huygens

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Blooteling, Abraham
Draughtsman: Vaillant, Bernard (After)

An image of Print

Samuel Smith

Maker(s)

Printmaker: White, George
Painter: Gouge, E. (After)

An image of Print

Paul Sandby

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Fisher, Edward
Painter: Cotes, Francis (After)

An image of Print

George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney

Maker(s)

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

An image of Print

James II, King of England

Maker(s)

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

John Somers, Baron Somers

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Simon, John
Publisher: Cooper, Edward
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)

An image of Print

Charles I, King of England

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Publisher: Smith, John

An image of Print

Robert 'Beau' Feilding

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Vaart, Jan van der
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)

An image of Print

William Romaine

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Reynolds, Samuel William I
Publisher: Telling, T.
Painter: Singleton, Henry (After)

An image of Print

Madam Baker

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Beckett, Isaac
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)
Publisher: Beckett, Isaac

An image of Print

Johannes Verkolje half-length, seated with torso turned to front, holding palette and brushes, behind to l. canvas with female portrait

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Printmaker: Verkolje, Nicolaas Jansz. (Possibly)

An image of Print

Mary of Modena, Queen of James II, when Duchess of York

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Valck, Gerard
Publisher: Valck, Gerard
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)

Man with close-cut hair and large ruff

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Printmaker: Louw, Pieter (Attributed)
Painter: Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (After)

An image of Print

Titus Oates

Maker(s)

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

An image of Print

George I, King of England

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Faber, John I

An image of Print

Venus and Adonis

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Publisher: Smith, John
Painter: Poussin, Nicolas (After)

An image of Print

William Pinkethman

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Publisher: Smith, John
Painter: Schmutz, Johann Rudolf (Rudolf) (After)

An image of Print

Henry VIII, King of England

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Faber, John I
Painter: Holbein, Hans, the elder (After)
Publisher: Bakewell, Thomas

An image of Print

Queen Mary II, wife of William III

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Smith, John
Publisher: Cooper, Edward
Painter: Vaart, Jan van der (After)

John Lee

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Hodges, Charles Howard
Publisher: Boydell, John
Painter: Reynolds, Joshua (After)

An image of Print

Henry Fitzroy, 1st duke of Grafton

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Beckett, Isaac
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)
Publisher: Beckett, Isaac

Charles Stanley, Earl of Derby

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Blooteling, Abraham

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: 2025-12-19 16:01:34

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=2025-12-19 16:01:34|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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