{"product_id":"portrait-of-edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon-thomas-johnson","title":"Portrait of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon - Thomas Johnson","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed mezzotint portrait of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, by British printmaker Thomas Johnson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis mezzotint by Thomas Johnson depicts Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, a figure of significant political standing in seventeenth-century England. As Lord High Chancellor, Hyde occupied a position of authority during the Restoration period. Johnson, an active printmaker during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, utilised the mezzotint process to achieve the soft, tonal transitions visible in this work. This technique allowed for a range of greys and deep blacks, which were particularly effective for rendering the textures of velvet garments and the subtle modelling of facial features.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe subject is presented within an octagonal frame, a common device in portrait prints of the era to provide a sense of depth and focus. Hyde is shown in a three-quarter view, his expression composed and direct. The artist captures the fashion of the time, including the voluminous wig and the simple, dark attire that contrasts with the lighter tones of the collar. The inscription at the base identifies the sitter, providing the necessary context for the viewer to understand his role in the English government.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMezzotint was a popular medium for portraiture in Britain, as it could replicate the appearance of oil paintings with greater fidelity than line engraving. Johnson was a practitioner who contributed to the dissemination of aristocratic and political imagery, making such portraits accessible to a wider audience. The print demonstrates the technical skill required to manipulate the copper plate, creating a smooth surface that holds ink in varying depths. This specific impression retains the clarity of the original plate, showing the fine detail in the sitter's features and the surrounding frame. It is a representative example of the portraiture traditions that defined the visual culture of the British Baroque period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/portrait-of-charles-i-of-england-anthony-van-dyck\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePortrait of Charles I of England - Anthony van Dyck — Anthony van Dyck\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/pastoral-landscape-with-the-ponte-molle-claude-lorrain\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePastoral Landscape with the Ponte Molle - Claude Lorrain — Claude Lorrain\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thomas Johnson","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58793952805199,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58793956671823,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58793956704591,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58793956737359,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58793956770127,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58793956802895,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58793956835663,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58793956868431,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58793956901199,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58793956933967,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58793956966735,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58793956999503,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Portrait-of-Edward-Hyde-1st-Earl-of-Clarendon_Poster_CompositorV1_1789523953027.jpg?v=1789524843","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/portrait-of-edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon-thomas-johnson","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}