Lawrence Jossett was born in Cambridgeshire. He acquired his early knowledge and skill as an engraver of banknotes. This skill and attention to detail has marked him as one of the finest intaglio artists of the 20th Century. One of his most important works was the engraved mezzotint plate of the Annigoni portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He also engraved maps and botanical subjects and illustrated The Stream Way by Lois Lumplugh, published in 1948.

Glossary

  • Intaglio

    Is the generic term used to describe printing from a surface (most commonly a copper, zinc or steel plate) which holds ink in the grooves, textures or pitted areas which have been cut, scratched or etched. In order to obtain a print, ink is pushed into the incisions on the plate and the non-printed area wiped clean before being laid over with a piece of dampened paper and rolled through an etching press. (See also Etching; Drypoint; Engraving; Aquatint; Mezzotint)

  • Mezzotint

    An intaglio process and a method of achieving tone on a plate without the use of acid. A large engraving tool with a curved serrated edge is rocked over the surface of the plate covering it with tiny drypoint dots which when inked will print black. An image is then created by scraping areas back to lesser shades of grey or white.