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Richard II, 1775. Creator: John Hamilton Mortimer (British, 1740-1779)
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Richard II, 1775. Creator: John Hamilton Mortimer (British, 1740-1779)
Richard II, 1775. John Hamilton Mortimer supported the prevailing academic doctrine which located history painting at the top of the hierarchy of subject matter. Unlike many of his contemporaries, however, he turned to the great subjects of English literature for themes. From 1775 to 1776, Mortimer produced etchings of twelve Shakespearean characters, including King Lear, Ophelia, and Caliban. In this dramatic composition, the skeletal figure of death looms over the tense King Richard II. This rare signed proof is a marvelous example of Mortimers Romantic sensibility. By the time he was twenty-three years old, Mortimer had won numerous prizes for his drawings and paintings and was considered one of the rising stars of English art. In 1774, he became president of the Society of Artists of Great Britain, to whose annual exhibitions he was a regular contributor. The artists promising career was cut short by his untimely death at the age of thirty-nine
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Media ID 19637798
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John Hamilton Mortimer 1740 1779
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases John Hamilton Mortimer's masterpiece, "Richard II" from 1775. Mortimer was a British artist who embraced the prevailing academic doctrine of his time, placing history painting at the pinnacle of subject matter hierarchy. However, he deviated from his contemporaries by drawing inspiration from great works of English literature. During 1775 and 1776, Mortimer created etchings featuring twelve Shakespearean characters such as King Lear, Ophelia, and Caliban. In this particular composition, we witness the intense confrontation between King Richard II and death personified as a skeletal figure looming over him. The artwork exemplifies Mortimer's Romantic sensibility with its dramatic portrayal. This rare signed proof is an exceptional representation of Mortimer's talent. Remarkably gifted even at a young age, Mortimer had already earned numerous accolades for his drawings and paintings by the time he turned twenty-three. He was widely regarded as one of England's rising stars in art circles. In fact, in 1774 he assumed the presidency of the Society of Artists of Great Britain while regularly contributing to their annual exhibitions. Unfortunately, Mortimer's promising career came to an abrupt end when he passed away untimely at only thirty-nine years old. Nevertheless, this print serves as a testament to his artistic brilliance and enduring legacy in British art history.
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