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.
Menpes had begun etching in 1879 and was active in the medium through the 1880’s and ‘90’s. After 1900m he concentrated on etching intensively, almost exclusively. He was most interested in colour printing and colour etchings. He first exhibited his innovative etchings printed by hand with coloured inks at Dowdeswells in 1897. Menpes was an important pioneer of original colour etching in Britain. His work often captures a unique blend of 19th-century realism and the subtle, atmospheric influences of Japonisme.
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.
A "born raconteur", Menpes was also a fixture of British high society, and he became renowned for hosting soirées at his Japanese-style home. These Sloane Square events were attended by a wide circle of artists, writers, socialites and other prominent figures. He was the godfather of Oscar Wilde's son Vyvyan.
This is a very rare colour etching by Menpes, and I cannot find another impression of it. I have owned it for over 20 years and it had hung on my wall at home. I have recently taken it out of its old frame and had it re-mounted for sale. It is signed in pencil along the lower margin Mortimer Menpes imp (for imprimeur) to show that he has printed his work himself. It has no edition number or title. Perhaps it is an proof impression made to be later reproduced and to feature in one of his travel books that included colour illustrations after his original artworks.
This colour etching is very atmospheric - and relies on the use of hundreds of finely etched lines to build up tone and a subtle build-up of colour inks. The view featueds a river in the foreground, a mountain ridge in the mid-distance and clouds in a vast sky rising above the landscape below. I have taken lots of images of the print in close-up so you can see the crossing hatching and finely delineated drypoint lines used to capture the feel of a twilight landscape. As you can see the print is in excellent condition, it has not been laid down at any point. It is now in a new fresh window mount - so you can just pop into a framers and get a moulding of your choice as a frame.
It is listed at a very fair price as it is so rare - and very important in the development of colour etching in British art. I have looked everywhere for another impression of this work in museum collections or sold through specialist auctions - but have failed to find another. Colour etchings made by Menpes in Japan command high four figure sums when they come up for sale. It is with regret I am selling this lovely work - I have being doing a wee re-hang at home - and this did not fit back in the space.
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