print
- Museum number
- 1842,0806.322.g
- Description
-
A singing boy playing a violin; after Hendrick ter Brugghen. 1680s
Mezzotint
- Production date
- 1680-1690
- Dimensions
-
Height: 197 millimetres (including 20mm blank margin)
-
Width: 127 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- After the 1626/7 painting, now in a German private collection; see L.J. Slatkes and W. Franits, 'Hendrick ter Brugghen' (Oculi Studies in the Arts of the Low Countries 10), Amsterdam-Philadelphia, 2007, cat.no.A80 (replica 7; as possibly after the mezzotint by Verkolje).
(Text from Antony Griffiths 'The Print in Stuart Britain', BM 1998, cat.183)
This print, after a well-known type by Hendrik Terbruggen (see Benedict Nicholson, 'Hendrick Terbrugghen', London 1958, cat.A65), has traditionally been said to be a portrait of Daniel Boone. Granger says that 'this man was also a buffoon painter, and much of the same character with Heemskerk' (IV 125). The posthumous sale of Boone's collection of paintings, prints and designs was advertised in the London Gazette on 22 September 1692. But the print appears to be purely a genre scene, and it is unclear why the identification with Boone was made.
The quality of the print is evident, and it is surprising that Griffier made so few mezzotints. One that is recorded by Croft-Murray, of a seated woman, was published by John Lloyd, which shows that Griffier must have been caught up, like so many others, in the mezzotint boom around 1683.
(additional information) The print seems to be copied in reverse from a much smaller mezzotint by Jan Verkolje (Hollstein 15), signed in full, dated 1681 and with 'HB pin.' The doubt arises from the different sizes, and the possibility that Verkolje is in fact copying Griffier.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
1998 BM The Print in Stuart Britain, cat.183
- Acquisition date
- 1842
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1842,0806.322.g