The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Painting in the Year 1771

This monumental mezzotint was created by Richard Earlom, a professional engraver who translated the work of Joseph Wright of Derby, Henry Fuseli, and others. Earlom’s extraordinary control of the mezzotint process is clear in the brilliant light pouring from the left, selectively illuminating the jostling crowd. Equally impressive was his ability to depict the paintings; many remain quite recognizable, and he rendered them with considerable detail and tonal nuance. No doubt Earlom was selected to create this work for his skill in reproducing oil paintings as mezzotints; he reproduced at least 50 paintings in this single print.