This is another sought-after etching & drypoint by the celebrated marine artist, William Lionel Wyllie.
This fine, carefully observed etching shows a view of Leith Harbour - with the Old Town of Edinburgh seen on the high ground in the distance.
The harbour has now been redeveloped and this view shows the area as it was in the first half of the 20th century. Wyllie's etching shows a little steam-powered tug boat leaving the harbour and sailing out in the Firth of Forth. I love all the little rowing boats that he has included in the scene.
Wyllie was born in London in 1851. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools (1866-69), where he won the Turner Medal in his final year. He worked as a marine illustrator for the Graphic between 1870 and 1890.
Wyllie was Marine Painter to the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and did much work, including posters, for the Orient Company, the White Star Line and the Union-Castle Line.
Between 1924 and 1930 he worked on a fabulous panoramic oil painting depicting the Battle of Trafalgar for the Victory Museum, Portsmouth.
Wyllie had a historic connection with Scottish marine and naval activities. During the Great War, he was allowed access to cruise in His Majesty’s ships, and in the North Sea, Harwich, Rosyth, Cromarty, and Scapa Flow, he made hundreds of naval studies. He saw the German Fleet surrender in the Forth and went with the last convoy of battleships to Scapa Flow. Later he made a sketching expedition to Northumberland and the East Coast of Scotland. This resulted in Wyllie's two series of drypoints which he published-for private circulation only. These were fully subscribed for, are now out of print and the plates destroyed,
This etching is signed in pencil, lower right and undated. It dates to before the 1920s.
It is NOT a reproduction but an original pencil signed drypoint etching.
As you can see from all my images - it is really a fine clean impression. The details are just exquisite and it is certainly an impression of museum quality.
It is in very good condition with no foxing or marks on the sheet. It is beautifully presented with new window mount. It is ready for you to just hang on your wall.
Dimensions: Frame size 32 x 52 cm. Image size is 16.2 x 37.5 cm
Unpacked the framed etching is 1.5 kg - so it will have to be sent to you with Parcelforce24 and insured. This will cost £14.95 and applied to your order at checkout. Free Local delivery in Edinburgh.