In the last two years of his life, the Dublin-born artist Thomas Frye (1710-1762) published two remarkable series of mezzotints, entitled 'Fancy Heads'. Although thought to have been drawn from life, Frye did not intend these to be viewed as portraits and, with the exception of the image of himself, did not provide us with names or titles for any of the sitters.

These four mezzotints are from Frye's second series, published in 1761-1762, and were titled 'Ladies, very elegantly attired in the fashion, and in the most agreeable attitudes'.

Frye was a keen self-promoter and publicised his scheme widely in the London press and advertised the prints as limited editions for 'Room Decoration', aiming them at the top end of the eighteenth-century interior decoration market.

Mezzotints on laid paper, good impressions.

Chaloner Smith 21, 23, 25.