{"product_id":"scottish-art-william-wilson-bell-tower-st-aignan-church-chartres-etching-signed-titled-pencil","title":"Scottish Art. William Wilson (1905 - 1972). The Bell Tower of St Aignan Church, Chartres. Etching. Signed \u0026 Titled in Pencil","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a fine, early etching by the celebrated Scottish artist, William Wilson (1905 - 1972). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a very early work by the artist,  done when he was only 22 years old. It is signed in pencil and titled below and must date to his travels on the Continent in 1926 \/ 1927. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a much sought-after work of the Etching Revival. In the late 19th century \/ early 20th century printmaking in Britain began to be considered more of a fine art rather than a purely illustrative medium. In Scotland, DY Cameron, James McBey and Muirhead Bone were at the forefront of the printmaking revival and started a mania for people collecting etchings as quality works of art. Printmaking in Scotland flourished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWillie Wilson was born in Edinburgh in 1905 and first served an apprenticeship in the art of stained glass. His stained glass works are just as amazing as his fine etchings. In 1937 he opened his own stained glass studio, but throughout his life, he worked in three different medium - etching, watercolour painting and stained glass;  excelling at each.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the mid-1920s Wilson travelled extensively to the continent. Later trips to Germany in 1928 resulted in the two other  accomplished works on offer by me. Wilson’s main influence was art from Northern Europe, in particular, the work of Durer and Breughel. Wilson loved to fill his prints with minute detail and often covered his copperplate right up to the margins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilson's work in etching dates between 1925 and late 1940. It is amongst some of the finest works by any Etching Revival artist. He excels in draughtsmanship (as can be seen in this composition) and his etchings are infused with atmosphere and textures with his fine use of dark tones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSadly, Wilson began to lose his sight in the 1950s and his work in watercolour and etching came to an abrupt end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is rare early work by Wilson. It reveals very much the influence of DY Cameron on his etchings. The print concentrates on the shape of the pointed roof of the bell tower of the St Aignan Church, Chartres in France. It is an image full of exquisite detail and again love Wilson's inclusion of little figures in the front of the tower which serves to emphasise the more massive scale of the architecture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a genuine early work as issued by Wilson in the 1920s. It is pencil signed and titled below in the margins. The artist has not dated this one,  but it must date to his travels in Northern Europe in about 1927. The print has been printed with brown ink and the artist has left more plate tone on this impression to create a more atmosphere to the image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe image measures: 21 x 10 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe price is a fair one for a rarer signed 1920s Wilson etching and there is renewed interest in his work. There is an exhibition of his work at the Royal Scottish Academy in October 2022, which is accompanied by a catalogue. This print is of museum quality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is in excellent condition with no issues, The etching has a clean mount and is framed. It is all ready just to hang on your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artwork will be sent to you with Royal Mail Tracked and Signed service. It will have private insurance against loss or damage in transit. This will be applied to your order at the checkout. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Iconic Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31616740851776,"sku":"MUSSELBURGH","price":625.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/scottish-art-william-wilson-1905-1972-the-bell-tower-of-st-aignan-church-chartres-etching-signed-titled-in-pencil-british-prints-472.webp?v=1792904346","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/scottish-art-william-wilson-bell-tower-st-aignan-church-chartres-etching-signed-titled-pencil","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}