MCARDELL, James (c.1729-65):

George, Duke of Buckingham and his Brother Francis, after Anthonie van Dyck

Mezzotint, 1752. Chaloner Smith 34, third state of three with the inscription
Provenance: Prince von Liechtenstein, tipped onto his typical support sheet

A fine impression with thread margins on three sides, trimmed on or just within the platemark at bottom, tipped down at three corners. A tiny nick in the right edge, a small made-up lower right corner in the inscription space, otherwise in very good condition.
503 x 353 mm.
$950

McArdell established his early reputation with his plates after Van Dyck and other Old Masters, before beginning his association with Joshua Reynolds in 1754 and ushering in the great period of English mezzotinting. The father of the young men depicted in this portrait, George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham, may be seen in an engraving by William Delff in this same website. He had unfortunately been murdered before the birth of Francis.