Mortimer Menpes was born in Australia in 1855. He settled in London in the 1880s and became a protége of James McNeill Whistler.
In 1880, Menpes set off on a sketching tour of Brittany and met up with Whistler. He became his pupil, and at one stage shared a flat with him at Cheyne Walk on the Chelsea Embankment in London. He was taught etching by Whistler and soon became a major figure in the etching revival.
Menpes became a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (RE) in 1881, the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) in 1885, the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) in 1897 and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) in 1899. In 1904 he published his memoir of his time with Whistler, Whistler as I Knew Him. Mortimer Menpes died in Pangebourne on April 1, 1938.
This is an unusual work by Menpes - it is a view of Pall Mall in London. It seems to be a reduced version of a large landscape composition of the same location. He has reworked the cut-down copper plate with more drypoint work - and seems to have extended the upper edge of the composition a little. Frank Brangwyn was also known for cutting down sections of his printing plate to form new compositions.
The drypoint dates to around 1910 and shows a view looking along Pall Mall towards Trafalgar Square in the distance. To the left-hand side and depicted in deep shadow is The Guard's Crimean War Memorial surmounted by a figure of Victory.. This monument is located at the junction of Lower Regent Street. It commemorates the Allied victory in the Crimean War of 1853–56. In the distance, you can see the dome of the National Gallery.
The print is in excellent condition. It has not been laid down (as photographed) and has no spotting or issues with the paper. It has a new acid-free window mount and comes framed. It is pencil-signed by Menpes in the bottom right corner. It is all ready for you to just hang on your wall.
Dimensions: Image size is 16.5 x 15.5 cm. The frame is 34 x 26 cm.
It is listed at a very fair price for this much rarer London cityscape by Menpes. You will not be disappointed with it.
UK Postage will be with Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery. We will cap this at £4.95 and this will be added to your order at the checkout.