Accession No

6112

Brief Description

mezzotint ‘The Alchemist’, by William Pether after Joseph Wright of Derby, English, 1775

Origin

England

Maker

Pether, William

Class

prints

Earliest Date

1775

Latest Date

1775

Inscription Date

Material

paper; wood; glass

Dimensions

[unframed] width 455m, height 564mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christie’s, on or before 15/03/2007.

Inscription

Description Notes

mezzotint ‘The Alchemist’ by William Pether after Joseph Wright of Derby; English, 1775

Robed elderly figure kneeling in front of glass retort emitting light, behind him an assistant watches a young boy placing a glass blower into a candle. In the background can be seen various items of chemical equipment, manuscript volumes, an astrological horoscope, celestial sphere, clock. A full moon can be seen through the window.

In wooden frame.

Condition: good/fair, cut just within platemark, losing the writing beneath the image, a few repaired tears.

References

Events