The Wreck of the Reliance (November 12, 1842)

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

George Baxter—known as “The Picture Printer”— made technically innovative work that often portrayed important mid-19th-century historical events. He based this dramatic shipwreck tableau on the description given by the only English survivor of a shipwrecked tea-merchant ship, the Reliance . Of the 116 passengers, only seven survived. Baxter used about 8 color blocks for this print, in addition to the intaglio “key,” exemplifying the intricacy of his procedure. This work attests to his ability to fashion vibrant, captivating prints, as well as his interest in Great Britain’s triumphs and tragedies.

Source ↗