Boys at Play
ca. 1775â1800
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of George Campbell Cooper
Accession Number
1896-3-320
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Francesco Bartolozzi, an Italian engraver who spent much of his career in England, created *Boys at Play* during his productive years in London between 1775 and 1800. Known for his mastery of stipple engraving and reproductive prints, Bartolozzi often translated paintings by leading artists of the day into widely circulated prints. This work, classified simply as a print, reflects the vibrant printmaking culture of late eighteenth-century Britain, where such images brought scenes of everyday life and classical themes to a growing middle-class audience. As a print in the Smithsonian American A...