Ward, James (London 1769 – Cheshunt 1859). Industrious Cottagers / Les habitantes industrieuses de la Chaumière. Women and maids spinning and making bone-laces. In front left at the window the young lady of the house, in the centre three smaller children at the fireside, in a side-room on the right a group of 6 bobbin-lace makers. Coloured mezzotint by William Ward I (1766 London 1826). Inscribed: Painted by J. Ward. Painter & Engraver to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. / Engraved by W. Ward. / Pub. March. 2. 1801. by Messrs. Wards & Co. No. 6. Newman Street. London., otherwise as before. 49.3 x 59.1 cm.

Grundy 515 + colour plate. – Not in the Ward list in Nagler. – Title in English-French parallel text. – The numerous small repaired marginal tears reaching to or into the white plate margin here and there only. Weak foxing spots in the white lower margin. – On strong laid paper.

Atmospheric  as  instructive  large  leaf

from the age of English romanticism of fine condition as especially remarkable for the old mezzotints.

In regard of William Ward’s works distinguished by special truth to nature it shall be referred to the first-rate judging by the Colnaghis in their 1895 catalogue “Old coloured engravings of the English School”. And only recently Maedebach named Ward

“ one  of  the  best  English  mezzotint  engraver ”

(catalogue 5 of the Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg of 1975).
Offer no. 14,405 / EUR  1630. / Export price EUR  1549. (c. US$ 2500.) + shipping

„ besten Dank für die Mail und Ihre Sendung … Das Werk und die Kauf-Abwicklung sind wirklich tadellos! Nochmals besten Dank … “

(Herr D. B., 9. Oktober 2006)