The Countess of Salisbury

Dateca. 1696

Engraver John Smith (ca. 1652 - ca. 1742)

After work by Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723)

OriginEngland, London

MediumMezzotint

DimensionsOverall (trimmed to the plate): 13 1/4 × 9 3/4in. (33.7 × 24.8cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1977-292

DescriptionThe lower margin reads: "The Countess of Salisbury/ G. Kneller Eques pinx:/ J. Smith fe:& ex:."
Label TextFrances Cecil (née Bennett), Countess of Salisbury (1670-1713) is shown in a three-quarter length pose facing slightly left, but head slightly right in this mezzotint based on her portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller. She is attired in a modest black gown with white collar and wears a long veil towards the back of her head. Her hands are placed one on top of the other. This is believed to a be a mourning picture with the countess grieving the death of her husband James Cecil, 4th Earl of Salisbury (1666-1694) who died in December 1694 and perhaps her mother who was murdered that same year.

See 1977-301 and 1977-302 for other impressions of this print and for an example of the progressive wear of a mezzotint copperplate over the course of its use. Earlier impressions are darker, more detailed, and have more variation in tone. This is the earliest and darkest impression of the three. The print was originally published around 1696.