Artwork

William Pitt

William Pitt, by John Jones, ink, 1789
William Pitt, by John Jones, ink, 1789

William Pitt is an ink print by the Romanticist artist John Jones. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This print, 'William Pitt', is a mezzotint on laid paper created by John Jones in 1789.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts a man, likely William Pitt, dressed in formal attire with ornate sleeves, holding a rolled document and a small item, set against a backdrop of a draped curtain and a bust on a shelf.

Technique & Style

The mezzotint technique, used here, involves scraping a metal plate to achieve smooth shading, a method favored for detailed portraits in the 18th century.

Artist & collection

Portrait of John Jones

Artist

John Jones

John Jones (1790–1790) was an artist.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.