Description
St. Paul’s Cathedral has a centuries-long history, dating back to its founding in 604. Over the centuries it was destroyed and rebuilt several times and was the site of important events in British history. It stood for 500 years until the Great Fire of London destroyed it in 1666. The great architect Christopher Wren was appointed to rebuild it; his design for the current cathedral was approved in 1673. The cathedral was consecrated in 1697 and officially declared complete in 1711.
Mortimer Menpes was an Australian-born British painter, printmaker, illustrator, and author. Born in Adelaide, Australia, where his parents had relocated from England, he studied at the Adelaide School of Design. His formal art training began in 1878 at the School of Art in London after his family had moved back to England. Menpes also studied with James McNeill Whistler, whom he met in 1880 and who taught him etching. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1880, and exhibited regularly there over the following 20 years. He became a major figure in the etching revival, producing more than 700 different etchings and drypoints that he usually printed himself. Menpes traveled widely in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Mexico, during the early 20th century, publishing many illustrations in travel books. He was a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. His works are highly collectible as fine art etchings by an Australian artist.
Condition: Generally very good, recently professional cleaned and deacidified and backed on mulberry paper to strengthen, with light remaining over toning, wear, handling. Formerly mounted with tape in upper margin now professionally removed leaving pale discoloration marks, easily matted out. Margins slightly irregular but ample beyond platemark.
References:
“Explore our timeline.” St Paul’s Cathedral. 2024. https://www.stpauls.co.uk/our-timeline (15 January 2024).
Morgan, Gary, and Menpes, Mortimer. The Etched Works of Mortimer Menpes (1855-1938). Australia: Stuart Galleries, 2012. 327.
“Mortimer Menpes.” Wikipedia. 25 September 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_Menpes (15 January 2024).
