Francis HAWARD after Sir Joshua Reynolds

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty This Plate of Mrs Siddons In the Character of The Tragic Muse, Is with His Gracious Permission Humbly Dedicated by His Majesty’s Most Dutiful Subject & Servant, Francis Haward

18½ x 25½ inches

A black and white stipple and line etching by Francis Haward after the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, published in London in 1787.

Francis Haward (1759 – 1797) was an engraver who lived and worked in London, initially in mezzotint but latterly in line and stipple. He concentrated on portraiture and allegorical subjects after his contemporaries and his portrait of the Prince of Wales is perhaps his most accomplished work. He studied at The RA Schools in his youth and was elected to the position of Associate Engraver before being appointed Engraver to the Prince of Wales. This evocative study of the Welsh actress and society beauty, Mrs. Siddons (1755-1831), highlights the craze amongst Georgian society to be depicted in classical pose. Sarah Siddons was one of the most accomplished tragic actresses of her age and a firm favourite of the King. She was the eldest child of Robert Kemble, the actor and playhouse manager

£650