Author

BAILLIE, William, Captain.

Title

[Engravings].

Published, Date

Description

Large folio, 129 engravings plates arranged on 91 sheets, contemporary green half morocco gilt, pebble-grained cloth boards. A handsome set.

Note

William Baillie (1723 - 1810), originally from Ireland, was mainly a soldier, not an engraver. He received no formal training in the arts but instead served as a soldier until 1771, when he retired with the rank of Captain. However, throughout his life, including his time in the army, he created etchings and mezzotint engravings, mostly in the manner of eminent Dutch and Flemish masters. His earliest dated print is a portrait of John Golding Meyer from 1783. Baillie's oeuvre encompasses over two hundred plates published by himself and collected and issued in two folio volumes by Alderman Boydell in 1792 and reissued in 1803. Baillie is best known for his restorations and imitations of works by Rembrandt. Baillie acquired Rembrandt's famous 'Hundred Guilder' etching and aimed to improve it by re-working it. He then exhibited the print at the Society of Artists, England's first public exhibition venue, in 1776. A few of his smaller pieces are etched after his own designs. Other notable works by Baillie are his etchings of Rembrandt's 'Christ and the Two Disciples at Emmaus' and 'Burial of Jacob' , Rubens's 'Christ washing the Feet of the Apostles,' Van den Eeckhout's 'Susannah and the Elders before Daniel,' Terborch's equestrian portrait of William, Prince of Orange, and 'The Sacrifice of Abraham' and a whole-length figure of 'An Officer' from his own designs. His principal works in mezzotint are a whole-length portrait of James, Duke of Monmouth, after Netscher and Wyck, a half-length portrait of Frans Hals, the Dutch painter, and 'The Piping Boy,' after Nathaniel Hone. He also etched a small head of himself, and engraved in stipple another portrait of himself after Nathaniel Hone. This volume contains many of his finest works.

Stock Number

85133