His Most Sacred Majesty GEORGE the III King of Great Birtain, &c

Date1762

After work by Thomas Frye (ca. 1710 - 1762)

Engraver Richard Purcell

OriginEngland, London

MediumGlass, mezzotint engraving, gouche, turpentine, wood

DimensionsFramed: 16 3/4" x 12 5/8" unframed: 14 1/4" x 9 7/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1936-638,2

DescriptionLower margin reads: "T. FRYE. ad vivum delineavit./ R. PURCELL fecit./ His Most Sacred Majesty GEORGE the III King of Great Birtain, &c."

Label TextThis is an engraved portrait of King George III, King of Great Britain. It is the companion piece to Queen Charlotte, 1936-638,1.

This is an example of a glass transfer print. Mezzotints were often used because they offered more variations in tone. First, the glass was cleaned and primed with turpentine, then the back of the print was wetted. Next, the print was adhered to the piece of glass and rolled flat using a small roller. The back of the print was dampened using a sponge and rubbed until the paper was all but gone. This process laid out the design, which was the reverse of the original print, for the artist to work from. Paint was applied in prescribed ways, starting with the small details highlights, lighter colors, and details; and finally working up to the darker and final layers of shadow and shading --- from foreground to background. When viewed from the back, these pictures appear blotchy and bear little resemblance to the painting on the front.