Joseph Grozer after Sir George Romney

The Right Hon.ble James Brudenell, Earl of Cardigan & & & Constable Governor of Windsor Castle & Keeper of the Privy Purse to the King

11 x 15 inches

A very fine, half-length mezzotint portrait by Grozer after Romney; published in London 1792.

James, the Earl of Cardigan (1725-1811) was the Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury, Hastings and Bedwin. He was created Baron Brudenell in 1780 and then, in 1790 upon the death of his elder brother, he succeeded to the title of 5th Earl of Cardigan. This print commemorates his succession to the title and shows the earl aged 67 looking over his left shoulder with a confident gaze.

Not much is known about Joseph Grozer but he was one of the plethora of engravers working in mezzotint during the second half of the C18th to meet the insatiable demand for portraiture reproduction. He appears to have worked for both Romney and his rival, the great Sir Joshua Reynolds. This particular print is a very fine example of how the mezzotint method can recreate so beautifully the tones associated with an oil painting. Interestingly this print appears to be self-published by Grozer himself in Castle Street, off Leicester Square; an early example of 'vanity publishing'!