Robert Dunkarton a mezzotint

Mezzotint

Mezzotint is a printmaking process of the intaglio family, technically a drypoint method. It was the first tonal method to be used, enabling half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple...

 engraver, was born in London in 1744. He was a pupil of Pether, and painted a few portraits, some of which, as also some portraits in crayons, were exhibited at the Royal Academy

Royal Academy

The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...

 and at Spring Gardens

Spring Gardens

Spring Gardens is a street in London, England, crossing The Mall between Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square.It was named after the gardens which were previously on the site, which featured a trick fountain...

 until 1779. But his greatest success was gained as a mezzotint engraver. His plates are dated from 1770 to 1811, after which year there is no record of him. He engraved in a clear, finished style several portraits and historical subjects, of which the following are the principal:

Portraits

• George, Lord Lyttelton
  George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton
  George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton PC , known as Sir George Lyttelton, Bt between 1751 and 1756, was a British politician and statesman and a patron of the arts.-Background and education:...
  
  ; after West
  Benjamin West
  Benjamin West, RA was an Anglo-American painter of historical scenes around and after the time of the American War of Independence...
  
  .
• Jonas Hanway
  Jonas Hanway
  Jonas Hanway , English traveller and philanthropist, was born at Portsmouth, on the south coast of England.-Life:...
  
  ; after E. Edwards
  Edward Edwards (painter)
  Edward Edwards was an English painter.-Life:Edwards, the elder son of a chairmaker and carver, who had come from Shrewsbury, and settled in London, was born in London 7 March 1738. He was a weakly child, with distorted limbs, and remained of very small size all his life...
  
  .
• Dr. Arne; after W. Humphrey.
• Miss Horneck; after Sir Joshua Reynolds
  Joshua Reynolds
  Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
  
  .
• John Elliot; after N. Dance.
• Miss Bamfylde; after W. Peters.
• James Brindley
  James Brindley
  James Brindley was an English engineer. He was born in Tunstead, Derbyshire, and lived much of his life in Leek, Staffordshire, becoming one of the most notable engineers of the 18th century.-Early life:...
  
  , engineer; after Francis Parsons.
• Miss Catley, in the character of Euphrosyne; after Lawronson.

Subjects after various masters

• Lot and his Daughters after A. de Gelder
  Aert de Gelder
  Aert de Gelder was a Dutch painter.De Gelder was born and died in Dordrecht. He was one of Rembrandt’s last pupils while in Amsterdam, studying in his studio from 1661 to 1663...
  
  .
• Christ and the Disciples at Emmaus; after Guercino.
• Four subjects from the Life of Joseph; after the same.