Coloured Aquatints
These coloured aquatints bring early printed colour and line to your walls, offering the character of period graphic work.
Coloured Aquatints
When you search for coloured aquatints, you find printed works on paper that capture tonal gradations through an etched resin ground. The examples appearing here span periods from the Georgian era through to the nineteenth century, reflecting early graphic output.
You will encounter framed prints and wall art alongside book material and associated rings or seals. The subjects range from hunting scenes and sporting prints to figurative pairings, presented within wooden or gilt wood frames under glass.
How they were made
Makers produced these works using metal plates prepared with acid-resistant resin to achieve watercolour-like washes when printed with ink on paper. Skilled hands then applied pigment by hand to enhance the monochrome etched impressions.
Finishing involved mounting the sheets behind glass within timber frames, sometimes utilising gold leaf or gilt wood moulding to frame the image.
Coloured Aquatints Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for coloured aquatints among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
One historical lot throws in a signet ring and wax seals just to keep things interesting.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard examples and finer pieces lies in the crispness of the plate impression and the precision of the hand-applied tinting. Stronger prints retain delicate tonal shifts without bleeding or heavy-handed pigment application.
Framing materials and overall preservation also set pieces apart, with intact paper surfaces and period frames contributing significantly to the visual integrity of the work.
Adam Buck·Joseph Constantime Stadler·Charles Hunt·Francis Calcroft Turner·Sam. Howitt·Deidre Borlase·Victor Valery
The Coloured Aquatints Glossary
- Aquatint
- A printmaking technique that uses powdered resin on a copper or steel plate to create tonal areas resembling watercolours.
- Hand-coloured
- A term for prints that have received pigment by brush after the initial ink impression was pulled from the plate.
- Georgian
- A stylistic and historical period spanning the reigns of the Hanoverian kings, noted here in eighteenth-century plates.
- Regency
- An era defined by elegance in British art and design, often associated with sporting and figurative prints of the early nineteenth century.
Coloured Aquatints: Frequently Asked Questions
Are coloured aquatints original prints?
Yes, these are original printed works created from metal plates rather than modern photographic reproductions.
They carry the physical indentations of the plate mark on the paper surface.
How should I frame coloured aquatints?
Keep them behind glass using acid-free mounts to protect the delicate paper and hand-applied watercolours from atmospheric damage.
Display them away from direct sunlight to prevent the pigments from fading over time.
What subjects appear most often?
Sporting scenes, hunting narratives, and figurative studies dominate the historical material recorded in these listings.
Occasional modern works also surface alongside the earlier nineteenth-century plates.
How do I identify a Georgian print?
Look at the paper stock, the style of the engraving work, and the specific attire depicted in the figures.
Such pieces often align with the dates of the makers and publishers active during that reign.