[Framed Hand-Colored Copper Engraving] Lyme Hall in Cheshire, the Seat of Peter Legh, Esqr

London (Chelsea): William Watts, 1786. First Edition. Framed and matted. John Claude Nates (or Nattes). The print (visible) is 16 by 21 cm. The pictorial part of the print: 12.5 by 18 cm. The frame: 35 by 40 cm. The frame is a somewhat elaborate production, with an outer band of blond painted wood, which rises to a narrower, more tradition, gilt molded piece. The matting is an off-white fabric, with a narrow inner gilt piece. The print is browned and foxed, with the picture itself consequently darkened a bit. The hand-coloring was done with considerable care but the color application was done with a light touch (we are speaking of the amount of coloring, not the palette used). The result is muted, but pleasingly so, and we do think the color teases out some detail and actually adds to the illusion of dimensionality. The matting has a light dampstain. The frame itself has some minor surface loss. We think the frame is worth preserving, and as to the outer part of it having an issue, albeit a minor one, we would recommend just painting over this part, and with gilt leaf it will look far better than this frame ever looked.