(Thomas) Edwin La Dell was born in Rotherham in 1914. He started off his artistic career studying at Sheffield School of Art. In 1935, he won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Art under the tutelage of John Nash. He served as the Head of the Department of Lithography here from 1948 until his early death in 1970.
La Dell was elected to the Royal Academy of Art in 1969.
He was a much respected and sought-after British printmaker.
His best-known works are those from the post-war era, in particular the lithographs he created for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth as part of the School Prints Scheme, those for Lyons Tea Rooms, and his own series of views of Oxford, Cambridge, Kent, and New York.
This is a typical topographical lithograph by La Dell. It shows a view of Fettes College in Edinburgh. It was produced in a limited edition of only 75 works. This impression is edition number 50. It has also been pencil signed by the artist. It is undated but probably dates to the late 1960s.
Fettes College is an independent school in Edinburgh. The college's main building by was designed by the Scottish architect, David Bryce and built between 1863 and 1869. It blends the design of a Loire Chateau with elements from the 19th century Scottish Baronial style.
Famous pupils include the fictional, James Bond; the artist Edward Wadsworth, and perhaps most famously the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair (amongst many others).
This fine mid-century lithograph is a lovely image of the school. It shows the building silhouetted against a yellow sky as the sun sets behind it. It is a crisp winter's day and all the trees in the foreground are bare and La Dell excels at conveying their twisting branches which he sets out with quick flourishes. Impressions of this vintage print are certainly harder to find: my asking price is certainly a very fair one.
A nice large and dramatic print - the sheet size is 53 x 72 cm and the image is 48 x 57 cm.
Frame size is 60.5 x 78 cm
The print has recently been re-framed with a new pale grey coloured acid-free window mount (to bring out the subtle colours in the image) and with a top-quality light coloured oak frame. All ready for you just to hang straight on your wall.
PLEASE NOTE THAT the cost of the new frame is included in the purchase price of the lithograph. The framing cost was £100, and the print was has been priced at £245 - making a grand total of £345.00
UK Posting Only. The print will be sent with Parcelforce48 - it will be about £15 to post. This will be applied at check-out.