Jane (Fleming), Countess of Harrington
Medium
mezzotint
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Andrew W. Mellon Fund
Accession Number
1977.12.12
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant portrait of *Jane (Fleming), Countess of Harrington*, a captivating 1780 mezzotint by engraver Valentine Green, faithfully reproducing Sir Joshua Reynolds' original painting. Reynolds, the preeminent British portraitist of the 18th century and founder of the Royal Academy, masterfully captured the countess's poised grace and aristocratic refinement, reflecting the opulent world of Georgian high society. Jane Fleming, a celebrated beauty and socialite, embodied the era's ideals of femininity and status. Green's mezzotint technique—a revolutionary printmaking method involving...