• Mezzotint of celebrated portrait of Benedetta Ramus by George Romney [William Dickinson, after George Romney. c. 1779].

Collections:

• In the Company of Good Books

View in catalog:

• https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/99125378302006421

Language:

• English

Creator:

• Dickinson, William

Call number:

• Alma-5264q

Extent:

• 1 print.

Format:

• Book

Publisher:

• London, c. 1779.

Date:

• 1779

Identifier:

• ark:/88435/dc5999nf40g

Range label:

• Logical

Description:

• Mezzotint, proof before lettering (sheet approx. 20 x 28.2cm,platemark approx. 18.1 x 25.3cm). Portrait, a proof before lettering, depicting a youthful Benedetta Ramus (d.1811) resting her hands and chin upon a volume of Johnson’s edition of Shakespeare. This was one of two mezzotints of the sitter produced by the engraver William Dickinson (1746-1823) after a portrait by George Romney (1734-1802). Together with her sister Elizabeth (1751-1848) she was painted also by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788). Of Anglo-Jewish descent, her father Nicholas Ramus (d.1779) was senior page of the backstairs to king George III at St. James’s Palace. On 15 February 1777 she married Sir John Day (1738-1808) advocate-general of the East India Company at Bengal. As Lady Day she rose into the upper echelons of Calcutta society.

Contributor:

• Romney, George

Engraver:

• Dickinson, William