DISCOVERART

Richard Earlom

The Blacksmith

1771
mezzotint

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of July 2026

View at clevelandart.org ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Joseph Wright of Derby's fame as a painter was enhanced by prints based on his compositions since works on paper, being relatively cheap and widely available, could reach a much larger audience than his oils. Filled with dramatic light effects, Wright's paintings were ideally suited for reproduction in mezzotint. With its velvety texture and subtle tonal variations ranging from rich blacks to delicate shades of gray, mezzotint was the printmaking technique closest to oil painting. Experts like Earlom or William Pether were skilled at transposing paintings into mezzotint while exploiting the unique characteristics of this medium.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Richard Earlom

Liber Veritatis: No. 89, View of a Mountainous Extended CountryLiber Veritatis: No. 89, View of a Mountainous Extended CouThe Superb Lily, from The Temple of FloraThe Superb Lily, from The Temple of FloraThe Superb Lily, from The Temple of FloraThe Superb Lily, from The Temple of FloraLiber Veritatis: No. 68, A Landscape at Sunset with Fishermen Drawing a NetLiber Veritatis: No. 68, A Landscape at Sunset with FishermLiber Veritatis: No. 145, A Landscape, with Figures, Simon brought before PriamLiber Veritatis: No. 145, A Landscape, with Figures, Simon Liber Veritatis: No. 138, A View of the Sea, with Christ Preaching on the Mount (the water below may probably be intended for the Sea of Tiberius)Liber Veritatis: No. 138, A View of the Sea, with Christ PrLiber Veritatis: No. 135, A Landscape, with Buildings, Mercury Stealing Admetuss' Cattle from ApolloLiber Veritatis: No. 135, A Landscape, with Buildings, MercLiber Veritatis: No. 108, Landscape with Satyrs and Nymphs DancingLiber Veritatis: No. 108, Landscape with Satyrs and Nymphs

More like this

A Blacksmith's ShopRichard Earlom — A Blacksmith's ShopAn Iron ForgeRichard Earlom — An Iron ForgeA Blacksmith's ShopJohn Boydell|Joseph Wright (Wright of Derby)|Richard Earlom A BlacksmithThomas Rowlandson — A BlacksmithThe Prisons: A Perspective of Roman Arches, with Two Lions Carved in Relief on Stone Slabs in the ForegroundGiovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — The PrisonThe FamilyAdriaen van Ostade — The FamilyThe Flemish BlacksmithThéodore Géricault (French, 1791–1824) — The Flemish BlacksmTheater SceneGiovanni David (Italian, 1743–1790) — Theater SceneThe CounterfeitersCharles Jacque — The CounterfeitersThe CounterfeitersCharles Jacque|Auguste Delâtre — The CounterfeitersThe Prisons: An Architectural Medly, with a Man on the Rock in the ForegroundGiovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — The PrisonThe CounterfeitersCharles Jacque — The Counterfeiters