This is a fine vintage drypoint etching by the Australian artist, Lionel Arthur Lindsay.
Lindsay 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. He travelled widely, visiting not only Spain, but also latterly Italy, France, and India.
On this return to Australia - Lindsay moved to Sydney where he was employed as a freelance artist and journalist.
In 1907, he held an exhibition of the etchings at the Society of Artists, Sydney. In 1921, he was elected the first President of the Australian 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.
Lindsay 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.
The 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.
Lindsay published several books on the subject of etching - and his own work is the subject of a number of published volumes.
Lindsay made a trip to the Continent in the late 1920s. 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.
It is being sold with a new fresh acid-free window mount and backing - so that it could be shipped to Australia - this is going to be in the region of £25 with recorded Royal Mail post. The print is in excellent antique condition, nice and clean.
The drypoint is signed in pencil by the artist to the bottom left, in the margin. And inscribed in pencil St Lesmes, Burgos, on the sheet edge - but now hidden below the new mount. There is also the No. 60 marked in pencil below the image.
This fine drypoint print shows a view the Church of St Lesmes at Burgos, Spain. The view is a timeless one - and even today nearly 100 years later the scene depicted by Lindsay has hardly changed.
The church was originally built in honour and to house the remains of the town's patron saint St Lesmes in the 15th Century. The Saint dedicated himself to the care of the pilgrims on the Road to Santiago de Compostela. One century after it was built, it was altered to adapt to the changes in architectural and decorative tastes of the era.
This church has a beautiful vaulted ceiling, tall nave and elaborately carved altarpiece which was renovated in 2012.
Lindsay had a deep adoration of Spain and he created a large volume of work focusing on the country. This fine etching with all its rich velvety drypoint is good example of Lindsay's interest in Spanish architecture. There is one point of interest about this print. I think that Lindsay would have originally sketched the scene on the spot and made the etching later back in this studio. He has copied his original sketch directly on the etching plate - and forgot to reverse it - so the printed image shows a reverse image of the location as it actually appears. The San Juan Bridge over the River Vena - is on the opposite side of the church and it is actually the other way around in "real life".
Dimensions: The mount size is 40 x 32 cm. The image size is 22.3 x 15 cm.
Another impression of this print is in the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, as well as the Te Papa Museum in New Zealand.
UK Postage with the Royal Mail will cost £10 for a Special Next Day Delivery service - and this will be applied to your order at the checkout.