Artwork
Successful Monster
Successful Monster 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
Successful Monster is an etching created by John Hamilton Mortimer in 1778. The print is on pale blue-green paper, a characteristic of Mortimer's graphic work from the late 1770s.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a dramatic scene featuring a shirtless man and a woman in a flowing garment, entwined together with a large serpent or dragon at their feet. The figures' poses convey turmoil and tension, set against a backdrop of plants and a cloudy sky.
Technique & Style
The work showcases Mortimer's skill with etching, a technique associated with the Romanticism movement. The dramatic imagery and expressive handling are typical of this style, which emphasizes intense emotion and imagination.
History & Provenance
Mortimer, a British artist and printmaker, was President of the Society of Artists from 1774. His work from the late 1770s, including Successful Monster, often featured martial imagery and scenes inspired by Italian landscapes and the works 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)
