Artwork
Giuseppe del Puente
Giuseppe del Puente is a print by E. Matthews & Sons. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This is a portrait print from 19th-century Great Britain. It shows Giuseppe del Puente, made by the firm E. Matthews & Sons. The image is a print, not a painting.
The print was made in the 19th century by a British company known for such work. It now sits in a major museum collection.
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Overview
This 19th‑century print depicts Giuseppe del Puente, rendered in a monochrome portrait format. Produced by the British firm E. Matthews & Sons, the image exemplifies the commercial portraiture that circulated in Victorian England. The work is part of a museum collection, offering a visual record of del Puente’s appearance as interpreted by a commercial printer rather than a fine‑art studio.
Subject & Meaning
Giuseppe del Puente is presented in a straightforward, frontal pose, his features rendered with clear line work that emphasizes likeness over allegorical content. The portrait serves primarily as a documentary image, likely intended for personal or professional identification, rather than conveying symbolic or narrative layers.
Technique & Style
The image was produced using traditional relief printing methods common to the period, with ink transferred from a carved matrix onto paper. E. Matthews & Sons employed a crisp, linear style that balances detail with the economical constraints of mass‑produced prints, resulting in a clear, reproducible likeness.
History & Provenance
Created in the United Kingdom during the 1800s, the print reflects the era’s demand for affordable portraiture. It entered a major museum collection, where it remains accessible for study, illustrating both the commercial printing practices of the time and the visual documentation of individuals like del Puente.
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Artist & collection
Artist
E. Matthews & Sons ran a print shop in Victorian London where opera singers and actors lined up to sit for their portraits. The family cranked out crisp black-and-white lithographs that looked like they’d been sketched…
