George Wallis, The Late Celebrated Antiquary and Gunsmith of Hull
June 20, 1804
Medium
Mezzotint on white wove paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 17 3/4 x 14 7/8 in. (45 x 37.7 cm); plate: 15 x 11 in. (38 x 28 cm)
Classification
Works on Paper-Engravings
Culture
British
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2011
Accession Number
2011.90
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking mezzotint portrait, by the renowned British engraver John Raphael Smith in 1804, honors George Wallis, the "late celebrated antiquary and gunsmith Hull." Printed on white wove paper, it Wallis as a distinguished figure amid his tools of the trade—firearms and antique collectibles—highlighting his dual legacy in craftsmanship and historical scholarship. Housed in the Museum of Art's Arms Armor Department, the work exemplifies early 19th-century Britishure, blending personal commemoration with professional pride. Wallis, a prominent Hull resident, earned fame for his expertise in ...