Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Thomas Holloway
Portrait of Benjamin West - Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

1810

About the Item

Portrait of Benjamin West is an original artwork realized by Thomas Holloway (1748 - 1827). Original Etching from J.C. Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to promote the Knowledge and the Love of Mankind", London, Bensley, 1810. A the bottom center the name of the man portrayed "Benjamin West Esq.". Name of the sculptor and engraver in the lower margins. Good conditions, except for some stains. Johann Caspar Lavater was a swiss theologian and philosopher known throughout Europe for his studies on physiognomy. Following the physiognomy tradition of Della Porta and of many Renaissance and Baroque philosophers, he believed that the character of a person could be elucidated through examining their “lines of countenance" i.e. tracing a profile outline portrait. Being able to "read outside" was the key to "know the inside". Lavater's thought largely influenced Art in the late 18th and early 19th century, as in the case of Johann Fuseli and William Blake (who realized two etchings for Lavater's english edition of his Essay). Lavater was convinced that he could show his theories by analyzing the portraits of some of the main historical figures of the past, in some cases taken from paintings or (mainly for antiquity) sculptures. Some of the engravings in his volume, made by great masters of the time, are still considered today as graphic masterpieces.
  • Creator:
    Thomas Holloway (1748 - 1827, British)
  • Creation Year:
    1810
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12.6 in (32 cm)Width: 10.24 in (26 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
    Insurance may be requested by customers as additional service, contact us for more information.
  • Gallery Location:
    Roma, IT
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: T-1236001stDibs: LU65038768192

More From This Seller

View All
Ancient Roman Statue - Original Etching by Carlo Nolli - 18th Century
By Carlo Nolli
Located in Roma, IT
Ancient Roman Statue, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Carlo Nolli in the 18th century. Signed on plate on the lower right. ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Frescoes - Etching after N. Vanni - 18th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Ancient Roman Frescoes, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized from a design by Nicolò Vanni in the 18th century. Signed on the plate...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Frescoes - Original Etching after N. Vanni - 18th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Ancient Roman Relief Frescoes, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized from a design by Nicolò Vanni in the 18th century. Signed on th...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Portrait of a Man - Original Etching by John Thornthwaite - 1810
By John Thornthwaite
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of a man is an original artwork realized by John Thornthwaite for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to promote the Knowledge and the Love of Mankind"...
Category

1810s Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Portrait of a Man - Original Etching by John Hall - 1810
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of a man is an original artwork realized by John Hall for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to promote the Knowledge and the Love of Mankind", London...
Category

1810s Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Head of a Man - Original Etching by John Hall - 1810
Located in Roma, IT
Head of a man is an original artwork realized by John Hall for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to promote the Knowledge and the Love of Mankind", London, Be...
Category

1810s Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

You May Also Like

Study of a Head
By Wenceslaus Hollar
Located in Middletown, NY
By Wenceslaus Hollar, after Jan Van Bylert (Biler) Etching on cream laid paper, 3 7/16 x 2 3/4 inches (87 x 70 mm), thread margins. Lacking the inscription in the plate; "Felix Bil...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Portrait Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Etching

The Spectacle Seller
By Adriaen Jansz van Ostade
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching and drypoint on cream laid paper, 4 x 3 3/8 inches (102 x 86 mm), 1/4 inch margins. Signed in the plate, lower left corner. The 3rd state (of 6), after the rounding of the pl...
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Drypoint, Etching

To Drink in Excess
By Cornelis Visscher
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching on cream laid paper, full margins. Trimmed at the plate mark. Scattered light caramel colored areas of discoloration in the sheet corners, light skinning on the verso at the ...
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Portrait Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Etching

Peasant with a Crooked Back
By Adriaen van Ostade
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching on on laid paper, adhered along left sheet edge to archival wove paper. A rich inking impression in very good condition. From the Picart Edition of 1710. - Ex-collection Fer...
Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Portrait Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Etching

Louis XI, Roi de France
By Jean Morin
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching, engraving and stippling on cream laid paper with an indiscernible watermark in the sheet center, 11 15/16 x 8 3/16 inches (302 x 207 mm), trimmed at the plate mark. A very g...
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Portrait Prints

Materials

Laid Paper, Engraving, Etching

Young man looking down to right, fr Small Studies of Heads in Oriental Headdress
By Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching on tissue thin laid paper. 4 3/8 x 3 1/16 inches (110 x 78 mm), trimmed at plate mark. A very good, well inked impression. Only known state. Adhered at all four corners to ar...
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Portrait Prints

Materials

Handmade Paper, Laid Paper, Tissue Paper, Etching

Recently Viewed

View All