Lot 176: A self-portrait of the artist, seated at his drawing board holding a pencil; easel and palette in background

WILLIAM PETHER (BRITISH, 1738-1821)
A self-portrait of the artist, seated at his drawing board holding a pencil; easel and palette in background
rectangular, 3 5/16 x 3¼ in. (84 x 82 mm.), gilt-wood frame

Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, 23 June 1960, lot 843.

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.
William Pether, an English mezzotint engraver, painter and miniaturist, was born in Carlisle in 1738 and was the cousin of the landscape painter Abraham Pether. He became a pupil of Thomas Frye and in 1761 became his partner. In 1765 he was elected a foundation fellow of the Incorporated Society of Artists and served as a director from 1771-72 and 1773-74. He was a skilled printmaker and is best known for his reproductions after works by Rembrandt and Joseph Wright of Derby.