Artwork
Young Woman Holding a Fan
Young Woman Holding a Fan is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Frye. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Young Woman Holding a Fan is a 1760 mezzotint print on laid paper by Thomas Frye, an Anglo-Irish artist and entrepreneur. The work depicts a serene, elegantly dressed young woman in a characteristic 18th-century attire.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a calm and slightly serious young woman, is portrayed with a fan, a symbol of refinement and modesty in the 18th century. Her attire, including a wide-brimmed hat and ruffled collar, reflects the fashionable tastes of the period.
Technique & Style
Frye employed mezzotint to achieve nuanced shading, utilizing chiaroscuro to highlight the subject's face against a dark background. The textured laid paper adds to the print's tactile quality, characteristic of older mezzotint works.
History & Provenance
Created in 1760, the print is part of Frye's oeuvre during his active years in London, where he also managed the Bow porcelain factory until his death in 1762. The factory's closure and final auctions in 1764 mark the end of this entrepreneurial venture.
Context
Young Woman Holding a Fan sits within the broader context of 18th-century British portraiture, where Frye was a notable figure. His work in multiple mediums, including oil, pastel, and mezzotint, contributed to his prominence in contemporary British art circles.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Frye (c. 1710 – 3 April 1762) was an Anglo-Irish artist, best known for his portraits in oil and pastel, including some miniatures and his early mezzotint engravings. He was also the patentee of the Bow porcelain…
