Her Royal Highness Augusta...Princess of Brunswick & Lunenberg

Her Royal Highness Augusta, Hereditary Princess of Brunswick & Lunenberg. Mezzotint, engraved by Purcell after the work by Reynolds, published by Robert Sayer, Map & Printseller, London.

Charlotte Augusta, Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttell (1737-1813) was a daughter of Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales, and the elder sister of George III. In 1764 she married Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick at St. James’s Palace.

In 1806, when France declared war on Prussia , the Duke was appointed commander-in-chief of the Prussian army. Within a few months he dies from serious injuries received at the Battle of Auerstadt and the princess returns to Britain, granted protection by her brother, King George III. One of her daughters, Caroline, was to become Queen to George IV.

It is thought that almost all of Purcell's mezzotints were piracies of other people’s mezzotints and it is difficult to understand how Sayer and Purcell avoided prosecution for breaching copyright. Clearly Purcell's frequent use of pseudonyms should be considered an effective smokescreen. He seems to have used around five; perhaps Johnson, definitely Charles Corbutt, Charles Corbett, Philip Corbutt (as in this case) and Patrick Purcell.

Within a good and faithful copy of an eighteenth century print frame.

o.s:14 in x 18 in,

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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