The Bookplate of the Printer's Devil
Medium
graphite on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 30.2 x 24.5 cm (11 7/8 x 9 5/8 in.) with mat: 40.7 x 32.5 cm (16 x 12 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2008.1.5
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the National Gallery of Art, where we spotlight *The Bookplate of the Printer's Devil*, a delicate 1895 drawing by American artist Francis Scott King. in graphite on wove paper—a smooth, versatile surface ideal for intricate line work and subtle shading—this sheet measures 30.2 x 24.5 cm. Acquired through the Ailsa Mellon Fund, it exemplifies the refined draftsmanship of the late 19th centuryBookplates, or ex-libris, were labels pasted inside books to denote ownership, blending personal heraldry with artistic flair. King's design evokes the whimsical world of printing trades, with "...