Artwork
Valentine Green
Valentine Green is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Valentine Green. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: L. F. Abbott, Pinxit; lower center: VALENTINE GREEN. / Published Octr. 16th, 1788, by V & R. Green, Newman Street, Oxford Street, London; lower right in plate: Seipsum Sculpsit
About this work
Overview
Valentine Green is a self-portrait mezzotint created by the artist in 1788, currently part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man, identified as the artist himself, with curly white hair, dressed in a dark jacket and white shirt with a ruffled collar. His serious expression and gaze directed to the viewer's right convey a sense of solemnity.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint on laid paper, the work features a predominantly dark background with a subtle, faint landscape. The overall somber tone and muted color palette suggest a contemplative atmosphere, aligning with emerging Romantic sensibilities.
History & Provenance
Created in 1788, the mezzotint is now held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., though the full provenance history prior to its acquisition is not detailed here.
Context
While not explicitly labeled as part of a broader movement within this context, the work's somber, contemplative qualities resonate with the burgeoning Romanticism movement of the late 18th century.
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Artist & collection
