Landschap met Erminia en de schaapsherder

About this artwork

mezzotint en ets, gedrukt in bruin

Art Historical Context

Richard Earlom’s *Landschap met Erminia en de schaapsherder* (1777) captures a pastoral moment drawn from Torquato Tasso’s epic *Jerusalem Delivered*. scene shows the noble Erm, disguised in shepherd clothing, finding refuge among rural folk—an episode that 18th-century audiences cherished for its blend of romance, exile, and simplicity. At just 179 × 235 mm, the small etching distills this literary drama into an intimate landscape that invites quiet contemplation. Earlom, one of the leading British printmakers of his day, combined etching with mezzotint and printed the plate in warm brown ink. This hybrid technique allowed him to achieve both delicate line work and rich tonal depth, giving the landscape a painterly softness rarely found in pure etchings. Such prints were highly sought after as affordable alternatives to paintings, helping spread Italian literary themes and Dutch landscape aesthetics across Europe. Today the work stands as a fine example of how 18th-century printmakers bridged literature, theater, and visual art, turning epic poetry into images that could be enjoyed in ordinary homes.

About the Artist

Richard Earlom · 1728–1794

Richard Earlom (1743–1822) stands as one of the supreme masters of mezzotint engraving in British art history, whose technical virtuosity and dedication to reproductive printmaking brought the works of Old Masters to unprecedented audiences. Born in London on May 14, 1743, Earlom spent his entire career transforming paintings and drawings into prints of extraordinary quality, elevating reproductiv...