Artwork
John Sheffield, Third Earl of Mulgrave, FirstDuke of Buckinghamshire
John Sheffield, Third Earl of Mulgrave, FirstDuke of Buckinghamshire is an ink print by the Baroque artist John Smith. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
John Smith’s 1697 mezzotint presents John Sheffield, the third Earl of Mulgrave and first Duke of Buckinghamshire, in formal attire. Rendered in monochrome, the image focuses on the sitter’s dignified expression, elaborate wig, dark coat with gold edging, and a medal‑laden sash against an unadorned backdrop, emphasizing his rank and the period’s sartorial conventions.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait records Sheffield’s elevated status within the English aristocracy at the turn of the eighteenth century. By displaying his medals and sumptuous dress, the print underscores his military and courtly achievements, while the sober facial expression conveys the gravitas expected of a nobleman of his standing.
Technique & Style
Created with the mezzotint process, Smith first roughened a copper plate to hold ink, then smoothed areas to achieve gradations of tone. This method allows for rich, velvety shadows and a painterly quality uncommon in prints of the era, aligning the work with the Baroque taste for dramatic contrast and tactile detail.
History & Provenance
The print was issued shortly after Sheffield’s elevation to dukedom, likely intended for circulation among peers and patrons. It survives in several institutional collections, documented in eighteenth‑century catalogues of English portrait prints, and remains a primary visual source for scholars studying aristocratic representation in post‑Restoration England.
Artist & collection
