Artwork
Lt. Col. Tarleton
Lt. Col. Tarleton is a print by the Romanticist artist John Raphael Smith. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Lt.
About this work
Overview
Lt. Col. Tarleton is a 1782 print by John Raphael Smith, a British artist known for his portraits and reproductive prints.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a young military officer, likely Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, leaning against a horse. The scene conveys tension, capturing a moment before action.
Technique & Style
The work features a strong contrast between light and shadow, with detailed rendering of the subject's uniform and the horse's tack. The background is blurred, focusing attention on the figures.
History & Provenance
John Raphael Smith created the print during his career as a painter and mezzotint engraver in late 18th-century Britain.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Raphael Smith (25 May 1751 – 2 March 1812) was a British painter and mezzotinter. He was the son of the landscape painter Thomas Smith and the father of John Rubens Smith, a painter who emigrated to the United States.
