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ID #SA1237051
FOR SALE
£800
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Pair of 18th Century Royal Mezzotint Portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte by Thomas Frye After Richard Purcell.
For sale by The Mezzotint Man
for sale €936     $1,016
£800
The Mezzotint Man

The Mezzotint Man

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2026
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Pair of 18th Century Royal Mezzotint Portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte by Thomas Frye After Richard Purcell.

18th century
Description

His Most Sacred Majesty George the III, King of Great Britain; and Her Most Excellent Majesty Charlotte Queen of Great Britain by Thomas Frye (Irish, Edenderry 1710/11–1762 London).

These fine pair of companion mezzotint portraits c 1762 depict King George III and Queen Charlotte as originally designed ad vivum (from life) by the Irish artist Thomas Frye (1710/11-1762) and engraved by Richard Purcell (who also published under the pseudonym Charles Corbutt).

His Most Sacred Majesty King George III is presented in a half-length bust view, facing slightly right. He wears an embroidered velvet coat trimmed with elaborate gold lace, an ermine-lined mantle, and a formal lace cravat. The Star of the Order of the Garter is visible pinned to his left breast, complemented by decorative blue silk shoulder ribbons.

Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Charlotte is depicted facing slightly left, dressed in magnificent coronation attire. Her dress features heavy ropes of pearls draped across her shoulders, loops of diamonds, an elaborate cruciform stomacher jewel at her throat, and an ermine mantle. Her hair is styled high with a fine lace veil and a small tiara.

The images of both sitters are hand coloured and placed against a dark, dramatic counter-lit background which is typical of 18th-century mezzotint printmaking. Their lower margins containing the expected formal cursive copperplate titles in Latinised English proclaiming their royal titles.

Being unable to obtain sittings from the King and Queen, Frye assiduously attended every performance in the theatre at which they were present. It is said that they were "graciously pleased to look towards him", and thus he was able to inscribe the plates: Thos. Frye, Pictor ad Vivum deliniavit.(Ralph Edwards, Apollo vol 21 Feb 1935 PP.. 90-2 Thomas Frye (1710-1760)"

This fine pair are housed in later fine quality antique ebonised Georgian style frames with gilt highlights.

Framed: 42cm x 36cm

Sheet: 26cm x 36cm

Price: £800 (the pair)

Physical Dimensions
Height
42cm (16.54")
Width
36cm (14.17")
Depth
3cm (1.18")
Declaration

The Mezzotint Man has dated these Georgian Royal Mezzotint Portraits to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1237051
Description
His Most Sacred Majesty George the III, King of Great Britain; and Her Most Excellent Majesty Charlotte Queen of Great Britain by Thomas Frye (Irish, Edenderry 1710/11–1762 London).

These fine pair of companion mezzotint portraits c 1762 depict King George III and Queen Charlotte as originally designed ad vivum (from life) by the Irish artist Thomas Frye (1710/11-1762) and engraved by Richard Purcell (who also published under the pseudonym Charles Corbutt).

“
His Most Sacred Majesty King George III is presented in a half-length bust view, facing slightly right.
The Mezzotint Man

He wears an embroidered velvet coat trimmed with elaborate gold lace, an ermine-lined mantle, and a formal lace cravat. The Star of the Order of the Garter is visible pinned to his left breast, complemented by decorative blue silk shoulder ribbons.

fig 1. An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.
fig 1. Pair of 18th Century Royal Mezzotint Portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte by Thomas Frye After Richard Purcell.

Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Charlotte is depicted facing slightly left, dressed in magnificent coronation attire. Her dress features heavy ropes of pearls draped across her shoulders, loops of diamonds, an elaborate cruciform stomacher jewel at her throat, and an ermine mantle. Her hair is styled high with a fine lace veil and a small tiara.

fig 2. An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.
fig 2. Pair of 18th Century Royal Mezzotint Portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte by Thomas Frye After Richard Purcell.

The images of both sitters are hand coloured and placed against a dark, dramatic counter-lit background which is typical of 18th-century mezzotint printmaking. Their lower margins containing the expected formal cursive copperplate titles in Latinised English proclaiming their royal titles.

fig 3. An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.
fig 3. Pair of 18th Century Royal Mezzotint Portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte by Thomas Frye After Richard Purcell.

Being unable to obtain sittings from the King and Queen, Frye assiduously attended every performance in the theatre at which they were present. It is said that they were "graciously pleased to look towards him", and thus he was able to inscribe the plates: Thos. Frye, Pictor ad Vivum deliniavit.(Ralph Edwards, Apollo vol 21 Feb 1935 PP.. 90-2 Thomas Frye (1710-1760)"

fig 4. An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.
fig 4. Pair of 18th Century Royal Mezzotint Portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte by Thomas Frye After Richard Purcell.

This fine pair are housed in later fine quality antique ebonised Georgian style frames with gilt highlights.

Framed: 42cm x 36cm

Sheet: 26cm x 36cm

Price: £800 (the pair)

Height
42cm (16.54")
Width
36cm (14.17")
Depth
3cm (1.18")
Date of Manufacture

The Mezzotint Man has dated these Georgian Royal Mezzotint Portraits to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1237051
The Mezzotint Man
The Mezzotint Man
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2026

Dealers in fine antiquarian portrait prints

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the The Mezzotint Man Profile Page

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An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.
1 / 10
Archive I An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.

Pair of 18th Century Royal Mezzotint Portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte by Thomas Frye After Richard Purcell.

Archive II An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View II
Archive III An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View III
Archive IV An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View IV
Archive V An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View V
Archive VI An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View VI
Archive VII An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View VII
Archive VIII An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View VIII
Archive IX An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View IX
Archive X An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge. View X
Enlarged Archival View
The Mezzotint Man

The Mezzotint Man
Telephone 07889 859729
Location
North Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/themezzotintman
Verified Since Mar 2026
Items For Sale 36
Items Sold 9
The Mezzotint Man
The Mezzotint Man
Verified Since Mar 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/themezzotintman
Verified
Mar 2026
For Sale
36
Sold
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An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.
PAIR OF 18TH CENTURY ROYAL MEZZOTINT PORTRAITS OF KING GEORGE III AND QUEEN CHARLOTTE BY THOMAS FRYE AFTER RICHARD PURCELL.
Ref: SA1237051
An 18th-century hand-tinted mezzotint portrait depicting King George III framed in ebonised wood with a gold beaded sight edge.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
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Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectPrints & Engravings
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialPaper, Ink, Ebonised Wood, Gilt Wood, Glass
  • ColourBlack, Gold, Cream
  • MotifsBeaded gilt sight edge, ebonised moulding, copperplate lettering, hand-tinted highlights
  • SizeH 42 cm (17 in) x W 36 cm (14 in) x D 3 cm (1 in)

FAQs

A mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking technique developed in the 17th century and refined during the Georgian era. Artists used a metal rocker to create a textured surface on a copper plate, allowing for rich, tonal gradations between light and shadow that accurately replicated oil paintings.

These prints were produced using copper plates inked and impressed onto handmade rag paper. Frames from the era typically used softwood or hardwood with ebonised finishes, water gilding, glass, and iron hanging fixings.

Authentic period mezzotints display a distinct impression mark from the copper plate edge, period copperplate publication lines at the base, and characteristic laid paper lines when backlit. The tonal transitions exhibit subtle velvet-like gradations rather than modern halftone dot structures.

Historical portraits add visual balance when hung as a symmetrical pair in formal areas such as above a sideboard, mantelpiece, or along a hallway gallery wall. They pair effectively with dark wood cabinetry, brass fixtures, and modern minimalist furniture.

Display prints away from direct sunlight and moisture sources to prevent foxing and fading. Use UV-protective glass and conservation-grade, acid-free mounting boards, cleaning frames gently with a dry, soft brush to avoid damaging delicate gilding.
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