Artwork
Amanthis
Amanthis is a chalk print by the Romanticist artist John Raphael Smith. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Amanthis is a mezzotint proof created by John Raphael Smith in 1797, enhanced with black ink and white chalk on laid paper. This print exemplifies Smith's dual career in both painting and reproductive printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a serene woman, identified only as Amanthis, whose calm expression and downward gaze convey introspection. Her attire includes a headband, ruffled-sleeved dress, and jewelry, with an unidentifiable small, round object in her hand. The subject's identity remains unspecified.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint with additions of black ink and white chalk, Amanthis showcases Smith's skill in reproductive printmaking. The solid, detail-less background contrasts with the detailed figure, emphasizing the subject's contemplative state. The work aligns with early Romanticism's emphasis on emotion and introspective themes.
History & Provenance
Created in 1797 by John Raphael Smith, a British artist from a family of painters (son of Thomas Smith, father of John Rubens Smith). Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Amanthis reflects the transitional artistic climate of the late 18th century, where Romanticism began to influence portraiture, emphasizing emotional depth over formal rigidity. Smith's work in both painting and printmaking situates him within a broader community of artists exploring multiple mediums.
Legacy
As a representative of Smith's reproductive printmaking, Amanthis contributes to the understanding of late 18th-century British artistic practices. Its Romantic undertones also place it within the evolving aesthetic tastes of the period, though its broader impact on the art historical canon is not distinctly outlined.
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.
