C.J. Knowles, 2nd plate
1826 to 1850
Medium
etching in dark brown ink
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of George Matthew Adams in memory of his mother, Lydia Havens Adams
Accession Number
1954.15.18
Art Historical Context
Alphonse Legros, a French-born artist who later worked in Britain, created *C.J. Knowles, 2nd plate* during the mid-19th century (ca. 1826–1850). This intimate etching in dark brown ink captures a portrait, likely of the titular figure, showcasing Legros' mastery of printmaking. As a key figure in the 19th-century Etching Revival, Legros the medium beyond mere reproduction, using it to achieve subtle tonal depths and expressive lines reminiscent of Rembrandt's influence. Etching involves coating a metal plate with acid-resistant ground, scratching designs into it, and immersing it in acid to ...
About the Artist
Alphonse Legros · 1837–1911
Alphonse Legros (1837–1911) was born in Dijon, France, and trained in Paris at the drawing school of Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, whose unconventional teaching method — which emphasised memory drawing and acute observation over academic convention — would leave a lasting mark on Legros's practice. At Lecoq's school he formed friendships with Jules Dalou and Auguste Rodin that endured throughout hi...