777 - C. TURNER (*1773) after HOPPNER (*1758), Portrait of the Duke of Grafton, 1805, mezzotint

C. TURNER (*1773) after HOPPNER (*1758), Portrait of the Duke of Grafton, 1805, mezzotint Charles Turner (1773, Woodstock, Oxfordshire – 1857, London) after John Hoppner (1758, Whitechapel, London – 1810, London): Augustus Henry, 3rd Duke of Grafton, 1805, mezzotint Technique: Hand-colored mezzotint on paper Stamp: Lower right: Blind stamp, unknown/unidentified. Mark: “RGC.” Inscription: At the bottom, signed on the printing plate: “J. Hoppner Esq. R. A. pinx | C. Turner sculp.” Inscribed in the lower center of the printing plate: “His Most Noble Augustus Henry Duke of Grafton.” Dated at the bottom: “published 1st Sept. 1805.” Date: 1805 Description: A representative bust portrait of Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735–1811), wearing elegant fur trim and the breast star of the Order of the Garter. The sitter is turned slightly to the left; his face shows signs of age but retains a lively expression. The print combines masterful lighting with velvety tonal gradation—characteristic of the English portrait style of the Regency era. The Duke served as British Prime Minister (1768–1770) and was an important political figure of the late Enlightenment. Keywords: Augustus Henry FitzRoy; Duke of Grafton; Prime Minister; Mezzotint; Charles Turner; John Opie; English portrait; Regency style; 18th century; Enlightenment; Order of the Garter; British aristocracy; Grand Manner; Representational portrait; Noble portrait; Printmaking; Art trade; Collector’s prints; Political history; Portrait art; Aristocratic realism; 19th century; Realism; Portraits; United Kingdom; Size: Paper: 36.8 cm x 26.6 cm (14.5 x 10.5 in), Plate: 35.4 cm x 25.7 cm (13.9 x 10.1 in), Image area: 30.1 cm x 25.7 cm (11.9 x 10.1 in) Condition: In fairly good condition. Shows signs of use with age-related defects along the edges. Remnants of adhesive tape on the reverse. Small wormhole on the right shoulder; slight rubbing on the left margin. The print image itself is in very good condition, with rich blacks and finely graded midtones. Includes an untrimmed platemark. The reverse side is unprinted.