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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

George Graham

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Ryley, Thomas
Publisher: Sayer, Robert

George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Hudson, Henry
Publisher: Simpson, Thomas (C18th)
Painter: Brown, Mather (After)

An image of Print

Abraham Symonds

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Blooteling, Abraham
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)

An image of Print

Called Rev Dr Samuel Clarke

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown

Joceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)
Publisher: Browne, Alexander

An image of Print

Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Pelham, Peter
Painter: Kneller, Godfrey, baronet (After)

An image of Print

Alexander Pope

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Faber, John II
Painter: Vanloo, Jean Baptiste (After)
Publisher: Faber, John II

An image of Print

Elizabeth Butler, Countess of Chesterfield

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Beckett, Isaac
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)

An image of Print

Nelly and Jenny Bennet

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Marchi, Giuseppe Filippo Liberati
Painter: Nixon, John (After)

An image of Print

Miss Macpherson

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown

An image of Print

Frederick II, of Prussia, on horseback

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Burford, Thomas
Painter: Wolfgang, Georg Andreas II (After)

An image of Print

Mary Bertie, Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven

Maker(s)

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

An image of Print

Miss Crusses' (Elizabeth and Emma Crewe)

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Brookshaw, Richard
Painter: Reynolds, Joshua (After)
Publisher: Bowles, John

An image of Print

Bampfylde Moore Carew "King of the Beggars"

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Faber, John II
Painter: Phelps, Richard (After)

An image of Print

Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Spilsbury, Jonathan
Publisher: Spilsbury, Jonathan
Painter: Hoare, William (After)

An image of Print

Margaret (Cecil), Countess of Ranelagh

Maker(s)

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

An image of Print

Thomas Gooch

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Heins, John Theodore, Jr.
Painter: Heins, John Theodore, Jr. (After)

Rembrandt's Father

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Chapman, R.
Printmaker: Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (After)

An image of Print

Jael and Sisera

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Vaillant, Wallerant
Painter: Lairesse, Gerard de (After)

Sir John Lowther

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Painter: Lely, Peter (After)
Publisher: Browne, Alexander

An image of Print

William Stukeley

Maker(s)

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

James Beattie

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Watson, James
Publisher: Boydell, John
Painter: Reynolds, Joshua (After)

An image of Print

Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke

Maker(s)

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

An image of Print

Sir Edward Hawke

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Miller, Andrew
Painter: Knapton, George (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: 2025-12-06 18:26:14

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=2025-12-06 18:26:14|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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