{"product_id":"australian-art-lionel-arthur-lindsay-etching-old-bridge-at-sospel","title":"1927 Australian Art. Lionel Arthur Lindsay (1874 - 1861) Drypoint Etching. Old Bridge at Sospel","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a fine vintage drypoint etching by the Australian artist, Lionel Arthur Lindsay.     \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLindsay was born at Creswick in Victoria. He studied art at the National Gallery School in Melbourne.  He was self-taught in etching and engraving. In the 1890s Lindsay made his first trip to Spain and England. \u003cspan\u003eHe travelled widely, visiting not only Spain, but also latterly Italy, France, and India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn this return to Australia,  Lindsay moved to Sydney where he was employed as a freelance artist and journalist.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1907, he held an exhibition of the etchings at the Society of Artists, Sydney. In 1921, he was elected the first President of the \u003cspan\u003eAustralian Painter-Etchers' Society. In the 1920s he began to exhibit in London and one of his most successful shows was held in 1927 at the prestigious Colnaghi's Gallery. This established Lindsay's reputation in the UK. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLindsay became a Trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and was later knighted for his services to Australian art in 1941. He died in Melbourne on 22 May 1961. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Lionel Lindsay Art Gallery and Library, in Toowoomba, Queensland, holds rare books, manuscripts, and maps, and over 400 artworks by the artist, members of his family, as well as works by other significant Australian painters. His work is also in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLindsay published several books on the subject of etching. His own work is the subject of a number of published volumes. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLindsay made a trip to the Continent in the late 1920s. An impression of this plate was included in Colnaghi's show in 1927. My print is in excellent condition with no issues. Impressions of this work are in prestigious collections in Australia and New Zealand. So this work is of museum quality. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is being sold with a new fresh acid-free window mount. The drypoint is signed in pencil by the artist to the bottom left, in the margin. And inscribed Sospel in the center and No.2 in the right-hand corner. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis fine drypoint print shows a view of the Old Bridge at Sospel (Vieux-Pont) at Provence, France, near the border with Italy. The bridge crosses the Bevera River. The town was prosperous in the 13th century when an important salt trading route between Nice and Turin passed through Sospel. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tower in the center of the fortified bridge was originally the toll gate for the mules using the trade route and used to collect tolls from people wishing to cross the bridge. A crossing has stood here since at least the 13th century, although it is likely the original bridge was built of wood. In 1522 the old wooden bridge was replaced by a sturdier stone version, much as we see it today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe town of Sospel seen to the right-hand side was once a bustling center for the mule trains that carried salt through the town.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design of the bridge consists of two different-sized arches. This was a deliberated design that allowed water from the river to be diverted to the houses in the town. Over the course of the centuries, the tower has been used for toll collection, as well as for habitation, and as a base for various businesses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bridge shown in Lindsay's print records the appearance of the bridge before it was extensively damaged in WW2. The bridge today has been reconstructed with the original stones following the design shown in Lindsay's etching.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePostage will be with the Royal Mail Tracked and this will be applied to your order at the checkout.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/www.francethisway.com\/images\/places\/fullsize\/sospel.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Sospel\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Iconic Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55007456854395,"sku":"SOLANDER BOX A","price":265.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/australian-artist-lionel-arthur-lindsay-1874-1861-drypoint-etching-old-bridge-at-sospel-1927-international-art-483.webp?v=1792844196","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/australian-art-lionel-arthur-lindsay-etching-old-bridge-at-sospel","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}