Artwork
Love in Her Eyes Sits Playing
Love in Her Eyes Sits Playing is an ink print by the Romanticist artist John Raphael Smith. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Love in Her Eyes Sits Playing is a 1778 mezzotint print on laid paper by John Raphael Smith, a British artist known for his work in mezzotint.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a seated woman in an elaborate outfit, featuring a white dress, feathered hat, and pearl necklace, with a soft, contemplative expression. The dark background emphasizes her figure, drawing the viewer's attention to her gentle smile.
Technique & Style
Mezzotint, the technique used here, allows for subtle tonal variations, creating a three-dimensional effect through shading on the subject's face and clothing. This chiaroscuro effect, achieved by contrasting light and dark areas, adds depth to the image.
History & Provenance
John Raphael Smith created this work during a period when mezzotint was a significant reproductive technique in Britain. As the son of Thomas Smith and father of John Rubens Smith, both painters, he was part of a family of artists.
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.
