1780
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Sleeping Monsters is a 1780 ink by John Hamilton Mortimer, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a group of large, scaly creatures lying still on a rocky shore. Their bodies are tangled together, half-submerged in shallow water, with plants and waves around them. The title at the bottom reads *"Sleeping Monsters"* in bold letters. The artist used sharp lines to make the monsters look rough and textured, especially on their backs and fins. This style was common in older prints to create depth without color. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints with acid and metal plates.
John Hamilton Mortimer (17 September 1740 – 4 February 1779) was a British figure and landscape painter and printmaker, known for romantic paintings set in Italy, works depicting conversations, and works drawn in the…
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