Biography of William Humphrey
London engraver, print dealer and publisher. His career illustrates the close relationship between artistic creation, publication and the sale of prints in Georgian Britain.
Career and artistic context
William Humphrey worked within the development of European printmaking and the spread of printed images. During this period, workshops, publishers and collectors played an essential role in circulating portraits, scenes and reproductions of paintings.
Relationship to mezzotint
Mezzotint can produce a range of tones from deep blacks to the most delicate highlights by working the surface of a metal plate. For this artist, it is important to distinguish a contribution to printmaking in general from a specific specialisation in mezzotint.
Legacy
Studying this artist’s work helps place printmaking techniques in their historical context and shows how prints made images accessible beyond private collections. For specific attributions and titles, consult museum catalogues and specialist collections.