ABSTRACT
During Matthew Boulton's lifetime, having a portrait painted became accessible to much broader range of people. Through the use of gesture, pose, dress, props, background and labelling, an artist could convey signals about the sitter for viewer to interpret. Boulton was aware of this and had his portrait painted by different artists for different audiences, each signifying different messages about his role and status. Boulton worked hard to build his reputation locally, nationally and internationally; he cultivated a high profile by lobbying Parliament and seeking patronage from important and famous figures. The print of Boulton was to be mezzotint, a form which was quick and cheap to produce and could reproduce the tonal effects of painting. The technique dominated portrait prints until the 1780s when other techniques such as line engraving began to become more popular. The private nature of the commission is not made apparent on the prin.
