This is one of two etchings that I have available on my online store relating to the 1901 International Exhibition in Glasgow.
This is a beautiful etching, been strengthened with lots of drypoint details, by one of Scotland's finest printmakers, Sir Muirhead Bone (1876 - 1953).
Muirhead Bone was born in Partick, Glasgow, and trained as an architect. He attended evening classes at Glasgow School of Art and was self-taught as an etcher.
In 1901 he settled in London, where he quickly established an international reputation, selling prints for large sums. He produced nearly 500 prints and was knighted in 1937.
This print is one of a series that Bone was commissioned to produce by the publisher, Annan. The series was to record scenes and a selection of the temporary buildings constructed for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901. For his ten etchings and drypoints Bone chose to depict views of the Main Gate to the exhibition, the newly built International Hall, as well as views of some of the principal pavilions, theaters and gardens.
The Exhibition ran for six months and it had elaborate exhibition halls, gardens and a selection of amazing international pavilions. Over eleven and a half million visitors came to the event. I love how Bone has added some of these visitors bustling to get into the exhibition hall and waiting for a chance to get in at the benches outside the doorway. The little figures also give you a sense of the enormous scale of the buildings at the site.
The set of consists of a total of ten etchings and these were published in a limited edition of ninety impressions. These were never pencil signed - but were all printed with a signature by Bone in the plate, as photographed.
Etchings by Sir Muirhead Bone are always harder items to source. He was a traditional Etching Revival printmaker who would not steel-face his plates for printing larger editions. Most of his intaglio prints are drawn on copper plates and have lots of rich drypoint details. The burr wears away more quickly and details eventually become fainter - his prints are best with low edition numbers and often do not print as editions of over 100 impressions.
This one is entitled Entrance from the Piazza: The International Hall. The Industrial Hall was one of the finest features of the Exhibition. It was constructed between 1898 and 1901 by the architect, James Miller. It contained a great golden dome and a statue of light.
This drypoint shows one of the tall towers of the building seen from below. It is interesting to compare it with another etching from nearly the same viewpoint done by another Glasgow artist, Susan Crawford and also for sale on my online store. The archway to the right hand side of the Bone's composition is the grand entrance to the Hall. He has chosen not to show the magnificent dome in this etching. It has been printed with a sepia rather than a black ink.
This is a very fine impression and is in excellent condition with no issues. Another impression is in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland.
Image size: 27 x 17.8 cm and the frame size is 43 x 33 cm
It is being sold in a new professional frame and has been recently remounted with a new museum quality ivory coloured window mount. Beautiful clean impression and simple (new) black frame - all ready to hang on your wall.
This is a much harder and more attractive image - this is reflected in my asking price for this historic image and original etching / artwork.
UK Postage with an insured and tracked service will cost £14.95 and this will be applied to your order at the checkout.