Landscape by Richard Earlom, eighteenth century

Richard earlom (1743-1822), etching and roulette, mezzotinte, 1774, after a drawing by claude lorrain (claude gelee), number 26 of the duke of devonshire's original collection, 1774, published by john boydell. With the inscription in the plaque claude le lorrain delin on the left, the address boydell in the center, r. Earlom fecit on the right, and below the inscription from the original drawing in the collection of the duke of devonshire, no.26. Richard earlom was a master engraver, specializing in mezzo-tinte. In 1774, the duke of devonshire lent his collection of drawings by claude le lorrain to the publisher boydell for engraving, and boydell commissioned earlom to do so. This work lasted about three years and resulted in several volumes entitled liber veritas - the same title as that of the collection. To create the look of the original drawings, earlom started with an etching, and then he used the roller tool he knew well in his work as a mezzotinte to create the wash tones. It seems that in some places, earlom scraped the roulette, using a conventional technique of mezzo-tinte, to create areas of solid wash with varying intensities of darkness and light. The plates were then printed in sepia ink, similar to the bistre of the drawings. Very good condition. With a mid-20th century parisian expert label on the back of the frame.

Ref. : BK82DZAD