Robert BLYTH (1750ca - 1784) "An Aga of the Janizaries" Original etching from a subject by John Hamilton Mortimer (1740 - 1779) printed and published by Blyth himself in London in 1779. Beautiful specimen on laid out typical eighteenth-century laid paper bearing a literal watermark, with large margins beyond the imprint of the slab, slightly burnished and with few minimal defects on the edges including two small tears recomposed but overall in excellent general condition. On the reverse, at the upper end of the right corner, a collection stamp representing an oval rampant lion not found in the repertoires. This engraving is considered by critics to be one of the best in Blyth's small production, whose career ended tragically with suicide in 1784. The character represented is a Commander of the Janizaries, a famous special body of the Ottoman Empire army. Bibliography: "Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers" London 1903 vol.1 pag.150. LeBlanc "Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes" Paris 1854 vol.1 pag.390 n ° 23. Measurements in mm: 382 x 310