This is another sought-after etching & drypoint by the celebrated marine artist, William Lionel Wyllie. It is a view of the city of London from a raised vantage point. Wyllie looks out over the River Thames and with the most delicate lines tries to convey all the hustle and bustle of the City.
Again, in this work you can really get a good idea of how much the skyline of London has changed over the 20th century. The highest building in London at the beginning of the century was St Paul's Cathedral and Wren's dome dominates the horizon. London is now very much of a "tourist destination" but here Wyllie has shown that it was once very much an industrial zone. To the right of the composition, there are chimneys spouting out plumes of smoke - and Wyllie has suggested all the crammed-together houses and workshops. Barges carrying coal and goods float along the Thames. The flickering lines suggests that the centre of London at this time is swathed in a mantle of smoke and smog. Wren's dome seems like a gleaming beacon in the distance.
This print dates to around 1910. These delicate images focusing on London's industrial heartland, and the fading Glory days of Victorian manufacturing are just so amazing. You can't find better images reflecting the changing face of London just before WWI than these drypoint etchings by Wyllie.
Dimensions: The frame size is 30 x 48.5 cm. The image size is 16.5 x 37.5 cm. The etching is pencil signed, lower right.
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.
His work is held in major British galleries and museums, including the Tate, the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum, and the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
As you can see from all my images, it is a fine clean impression and all the drypoint details are exquisite and very fine. Please look at all of these in close-up.
It is in very good condition with no foxing or marks on the sheet. It is beautifully presented. It has a new window mount and is in a new simple black frame. It is all ready to hang straight onto your wall.
Dimensions: Frame size 39.5 x 53 cm. The image size is 22.3 x 37 cm
Unpacked the framed etching is over 2 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.