Madame Jane Long [graphic] / P. Lely pinxit; R. Tompson excudit.

[London], 1680

1 mezzotint 25.1 x 33.9 cm

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Great Britain -- England -- London, -- publication place.

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From dealer's description: "RESTORATION ACTRESS IN EARLY MEZZOTINT PORTRAIT 6. [LELY, Peter.] Madame Jane Long. P Lely pinxit R Tompson excudit. [c.1680.] Mezzotint. (Sheet 34.0 x 25.3cm; platemark 25.1 x 33.9cm) verso with some negligible dustmarking, a very good impression. First impression, rare, of this early mezzotint of c.1675, a portrait of the Restoration-era actress Jane Long pictured near full length, seated, her hair in curls, stroking a spaniel, with an arcadian landscape in the background. The second impression was reworked substantially with a completely different hairstyle. The mezzotint bears the imprint of the London printseller Richard Tompson (d.1693) and was produced after a painting by Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), the foremost painter at the court of king Charles II (1630-1685). A member of the Duke’s Company of players, led by Thomas Betterton (c.1635-1710), Jane Long’s many roles included Laughing Jane in The cutter of Coleman Street (1661) by Abraham Cowley (1618-1667), Flora in The adventures of five hours (1663) by Samuel Tuke (1615-1674) and Osiris in Cambyses, King of Persia by Elkanah Settle (1648-1724). From the late 1660s she specialised in breeches parts (male roles to be played by women) and from c.1673 was mistress to George Porter (1622-1683), former Royalist army officer and groom of the bedchamber to Charles II. Chaloner Smith 26, I; Blackett-Ord & Turner T. 45. I." Ordered from Samuel Gedge Ltd, D9681, 2023-09-13, Cat. A List of Books, Prints, Drawings & Ephemera by, for & about Women, September 2023, item #6

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