![Rare Etching by Robert Bryden (1865 - 1939). Illustration to Burns "Death and Dr Hornbrook" (1895)](http://www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/04022024_0081_{width}x.jpg?v=1711200816)
This is one of a small selection of interesting etchings by Robert Bryden that I have for sale in my online shop.
Bryden produced a series of illustrations of scenes from Robert Burns' poems soon after his return to Ayrshire following his studies in London and travels in Spain and Italy.
This one has a new acid-free mount on it - as photographed. This is sold UNFRAMED and this is reflected in my price.
This is one of Robert Bryden's illustrations for Burn's poem "Death and Doctor Hornbrook".
The poem is a satire on 18th Century medicine and in more specifically in rural areas by unlicensed operators. It tells a story in which the drunken poet meets with Death. Death proceeds to complain that he is being forced out of business by Jock Hornbrook. The doctor’s medicines are saving so many lives that Death believes belong to him. The poet fears that the local gravedigger will be unemployed but Death reassures him that this will not be the case since Hornbook kills advice and potions kill more than he cures.
In Bryden's etching Death is shown as a mobile skeleton toting a scythe. He watches the doctor dispense a potion to a young girl - will it cure or kill her?
The Doctor in the poem is based on a real-life person – John Wilson, who was a parish schoolmaster at Tarbolton. He supplemented his small teacher’s salary by opening a small grocery shop (as shown in Bryden’s etching) where he sold drugs and dispensed medical advice.
It was not till the Medical Act of 1858 that medicine and surgery were made the exclusive province of the medically qualified. We might be going a little backwards on that practice today though!
Dimensions: The mount size is 39 x 33.5 cm. The image size is 24.8 x 22 cm.
CONDITION. The print is in excellent antique condition. It has never been framed - and it is here presented with a new cream-coloured acid-free mount. You just have to get a frame of your choice - then you can hang it on display. You can see from my photographs that the sheet the etching is printed on is nice and clean, not laid down and without issue. The print is printed on toned paper with a dark brown (not black) ink.
BIOGRAPHY: Robert Bryden was born in Coylton, Ayshire in 1865. He was educated at Ayr Academy and initially worked as an architectural assistant in the offices of Hunter and Morris.
He moved to London and studied at the Royal College of Art and at the Royal Academy Schools.
He was elected an associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers in 1891 and RE in 1899.
He travelled in Spain and Italy and on his return to Ayshire undertook a series of etchings illustrating the poems of the poet, Robert Burns. He loved the history and culture of his native Aryshire and was keen to ensure that much of it was not forgotten. He completed several series of prints featuring special sites of interest.
He produced a number of etchings during his career – but also worked with mezzotint, drypoint and woodcut. In later life, he turned to painting – but it was sculpture that became his main focus. He worked on wood carving and creating bronze memorial panels. He has two bronze portraits of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce which can be seen in Ayr Town Hall.
His work is prestigious museum collections including the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow; the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the National Portrait Gallery, and the British Museum.
These Burns series etchings are such fine works. My selling price reflects the relative rarity quality of Bryden's outstanding Scottish etching.
An etched portrait of Bryden as a young man (by William Strang) is in the collection of the National Gallery of Scotland.
UK Postage will be for Royal Mail Recorded (Medium Parcel). This will cost £6.95 and applied to your order at the checkout.