Artist: Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779) was a German painter, active in Dresden, Rome, and Madrid who, while painting in the Rococo period of the mid-18th century, became one of the precursors to Neoclassical painting, which replaced Rococo as the dominant painting style in Europe.
Engraver: Manuel Salvador Carmona, the outstanding Spanish engraver of the second half of the eighteenth century. Sent by state to study portrait and historical engraving in Paris with Nicolas Dupuis (q.v.) (1752), there elected to the Academy (1759). Returned to Madrid (1762) and elected Academician of Merit at the Academy of San Fernando (1764). Named 'Printmaker to the Privy Chamber' (Charles III, 1783).
Title: Portrait of Fernando de Silva Álvarez de Toledo. Fernando de Silva y Álvarez de Toledo, 12th Duke of Alba, was a Spanish politician and general who was Prime Minister of Spain in 1754.
Signed, Numbered, Titled, and Dated: El Ex.mo S.or D. Fernando de Silva Alvarez de Toledo, XII Duque de Alba Capital General de los Reales Exercitos de S.M. TU IN EA. ET EGO PRO EA // Spiritus, et vita redit bonis — post mortem ducibus. / Horat. Od. 8. lib 4. Carm. // D. Ant.o Rafael Mengs le pintò. Man.l Salvador Carmòna le grabò, año 1786.
Dimensions: Sheet 15 1/4" x 10 1/4" (trimmed within the platemark).
Date: 1786.
Materials and Techniques: engraving on laid paper pasted onto wove paper.
Mat and Frame: Matted.
Provenance: The Estate of George "Yorgo" Demetrakopoulos; professor, assistant director of the Medieval Institute, and assistant to the dean at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, from 1965-2000.
Condition: Remnants of old mount verso. The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Museums and Libraries: The British Museum 1849,1208.106. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid G002682.
Art Movements, Periods & Schools: Spanish School XVIII C. German School XVIII C.
Note: This entry incorporates text from Wikipedia and the catalog entries of the same item from The British Museum and Museo Nacional del Prado collections.