The Acquittal, engraved by W.H. Simmons

Catalogue entry

T03617 THE ACQUITTAL 1866

Mezzotint 21 11/16 × 27 9/16 (552 × 720) on wove paper 27 1/16 × 32 (686 × 812); plate-mark 26 1/8 × 31 (665 × 781)
Writing-engraving 'PAINTED BY A. SOLOMON|London, Published Jan^y 1^st 1866, by Henry Graves & C^o. the Proprietors, Publishers to the Queen 6 Pall Mall|ENGRAVED BY W.H. SIMMONS|THE ACQUITTAL.| Engraved from the original Picture in the Collection of Charles Lucas Esq^re of Sister House Clapham Common' below image
Presented anonymously by the former owner of T03614–15, 1982

For discussion of the subjects of T03616-T03616, see the entries on the original paintings by Abraham Solomon, T03614-T03615.

Despite the inscription on T03616 it seems clear that these prints were both published together on 1 January 1866. According to the declaration made by the publisher, Henry Graves, to the Printsellers' Association on 15 January of that year, they were issued in the following quantities: 200 Artist's Proofs, priced at 8 guineas each; 25 Presentation Proofs 100 Proofs before Letters at 6 guineas each and 100 Proofs; with Letters at 4 guineas each. Ordinary prints, run off according to demand, were priced at 2 guineas each (An Alphabetical List of Engravings Declared at the Office of the Printsellers' Association, London, 1847–1891, 1892). Simmons exhibited copies of both engraving at the Royal Academy in 1866 (831, 832) and such was the popularity of ‘Waiting for the Verdict’ that, in the words of one writer in 1919, copies of the print could, even at that late date, ‘still be seen in cottage homes and inns’ (G.C. Williamson, Murray Marks and his Friends, 1919, p.156).

Published in:
The Tate Gallery 1982-84: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions, London 1986

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