Artwork
Elegy
Elegy is an ink print by the Romanticist artist John Hamilton Mortimer. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Elegy is an etching created by British artist John Hamilton Mortimer in 1778. This black-and-white print depicts a solitary figure in a state of despair on a rocky shoreline, set against a turbulent sea and sky.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of Elegy is a lone, slumped figure, seemingly lost and overcome with grief, as suggested by the title and the integration of the figure into the stormy background. The scene conveys a sense of profound emotional distress.
Technique & Style
Mortimer employed fine etching lines to achieve detailed, expressive textures, blending the figure's hair and clothing with the surroundings. This technique heightens the emotional intensity of the scene, characteristic of Mortimer's dramatic narrative style.
History & Provenance
Created in 1778, Elegy reflects Mortimer's penchant for dramatic imagery. Mortimer, who had served as President of the Society of Artists in 1774, passed away the following year at 39, leaving behind a body of work influenced by Italian settings and the dramatic flair of Salvator Rosa.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Hamilton Mortimer (17 September 1740 – 4 February 1779) was a British figure and landscape painter and printmaker, known for romantic paintings set in Italy, works depicting conversations, and works drawn in the…
![Mucius Scaevola [recto], by John Hamilton Mortimer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-hamilton-mortimer--mucius-scaevola-recto--0de678fa443f7962-w320.webp)
