John, Lord Carteret

Art Historical Context

Behold *John, Lord Carteret*, a striking mezzotint engraving by Peter Pelham, around 1720 after an original portrait by the renowned Sir Godfrey Kneller. This captures John Carteret, 1st Earl Granville1690–1763), a prominent British statesman diplomat who served as Secretary of State under George I and II. Kneller, the era's premier portraitist and Principal Painter to the Crown, masterfully depicted Carter dignified poise, reflecting the grandeur of early 18th-century British nobility amid political turbulence like the Hanoverian succession. Pelham's mezzotint technique revolutionized printmaking, allowing for velvety tones and subtle gradations that rivaled oil paintings—far surpassing earlier engraving methods. By rocking a serrated tool across the copper plate to create a textured "black ground," then burnishing highlights, Pelham achieved luminous depth on laid paper. At 35.2 x 25 cm, this intimate yet evocative image made elite portraits accessible, disseminating Carteret's likeness to collectors and the public. Acquired through the Paul Mellon Fund for the National Gallery of Art's collection, this work exemplifies the mezzotint's golden age, bridging painting and print while preserving a key figure from Britain's Whig era. A testament to artistic collaboration, it invites us to ponder the power of reproductions in shaping historical memory.