William Pitt (1759-1806) Prime Minister

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Prime Minister, William Pitt, looks up from his papers, as he sits by a table adorned with neat piles of letters, an ink stand, a pile of books and his robes of office. A curtain is hoisted up in a theatrical manner to reveal a view of the English landscape through the window beside him.

This work is a stipple engraving, made by a process which combines the art of engraving, with that of etching.

The original oil painting, from which this print was made, is in the collection of the Palace of Westminster in London.

Antoine [Anthony] Cardon, engraver and print publisher, was born in Brussels, the son of the painter and engraver Antoine Joseph Cardon (1739-1822). At the age of 20 he moved to London, where he entered the Royal Academy Schools. Cardon later established himself as a successful engraver and print publisher and, from 1802 to 1808 he was based in Clipstone Street in Marylebone. Most of his works were stipple engravings and he became one of the leading exponents in the medium. Cardon produced a vast body of work during his lifetime. He died at his home near Warren Street in London, reputedly as a result of overwork and exhaustion.

People

William Pitt (1759 - 1806)

Places

Subjects

quill, paper (as Subject), book, male portrait, tree, 19th century costume, stockings, breeches, shoe, Prime Minister, field, window, desk, curtain, chair

Materials & Techniques

engraving, stipple engraving

Artist

Henry Edridge (1769 - 1821)
Antoine Cardon (1772 - 1813)

Title

William Pitt (1759-1806) Prime Minister

Date

published 26 December 1804

Medium

Stipple engraving

Acquisition

Origin uncertain

GAC number

17494