This is a beautiful original etching and drypoint by the British painter and printmaker, Sydney Mackenzie Litten (1887 - 1934).
It dates to the 1920s and is pencil-signed, lower right.
It is a fine impression, with nice dark tones and rich drypoint work.
It is from a small limited edition of only 80 impressions. This one was unusually printed on a pale green-toned wove paper, often favoured by British Revival etchers at this time. We have had it remounted with a lovely professional window mount with a grey-green shade to bring out the unusual colour of the paper.
The title is the Betrothal and features a couple coming out of a fabulous Renaissance Palazzo on the Cannaregio Canal in Venice. There are two gondolas parked on the quayside and another is seen in the mid-distance. In the far distance, you can just make out the arches of the Ponte dei Tre Archi, the only bridge in Venice which has three arches.
Litten studied at the St. Martins School of Art and at the Royal College of Art with Frank Short.
He exhibited at the Royal Academy and later became Senior Master at St. Martins. Litten is best known for these very technically accomplished and atmospheric and nocturnal views of Venice.
Litten's Venetian works certainly owe much to the ethereal images of the city produced by James McNeill Whistler - the whole scene here seems to be enveloped in a haze that engulfs the buildings and figures. I love the little bright highlight of the lights on the gondolas seen through the mist - they almost glow like halos.
This is certainly a fine impression, with no condition issues. The image size is 28.5 x 35 cm, The mount size is 42.5 x 47.5 cm.
It is sold unframed but with a fine new window mount - all ready to just pop into a frame.
The postage quoted is for next-day special delivery service with the Royal Mail. This will cost £10 and applied to your order at the checkout. UK posting only.