UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Etchings         Institutions search term: copley society

Draped Model

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1892.3)
Number: 109
Date: 1873/1874
Medium: drypoint
Size: 210 x 135 mm
Signed: butterfly at left (4-final)
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: 'Cancelled Plates', 1879
No. of States: 11
Known impressions: 35
Catalogues: K.100; M.118; T.80; W.87
Impressions taken from this plate  (35)

TECHNIQUE

The model is lightly drawn in drypoint.

PRINTING

A surprising number of impressions of the drypoint before cancellation have been located, possibly out of an edition of 25, for two of the surviving impressions - of the sixth and seventh states - bear cryptic codes as follows:
'1. Of 25. X' ( the 'x' is in a different lead), on Graphic with a link to impression #K1000403.
'5. '(o* 25 -)' on Graphic with a link to impression #K1000402);
Most impressions are in black ink though a few late impressions (of the sixth to tenth states) appear grey (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000502, Graphic with a link to impression #K1000404, Graphic with a link to impression #K1000503).
An impression marked '1st state -' is on buff laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000101), a second state is on cream Asian laid (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000103), and a third on dark ivory watermarked laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000203). Impressions of the fourth state are on off-white paper taken from a book (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000302), and cream laid paper watermarked 'B. TH' in a circular cartouche (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000304), and the fifth is on ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000303)
Several impressions of the sixth state have been located, and single impressions of the next four states. Papers used for the sixth state include a sheet from a book with a 'V' countermark and an old inscription (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000403), and another on ivory laid paper with a waternark, possibly the Basel crozier (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000405). Two sheets of ivory laid paper with the Arms of Amsterdam watermark are from a book: a sixth state bears a Greek text referring to the Acts of the Apostles (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000502) and a seventh has an old Dutch inscription on the verso (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000404). Later impressions are on laid papers including medium-weight ivory (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000503) and buff 'antique' (pre-1800) paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000604).
Impressions from the lightly cancelled plate were published in an album of Cancelled Plates ('Cancelled Set') by The Fine Art Society, London, 1879, possibly in an edition of 20. They are in black ink on a variety of papers, mostly laid, including a cream 'modern' laid paper with a Strasbourg Lily/WGL watermark (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000901).
In addition there are at least four impressions of the drypoint with addition work, after cancellation and restoration. One is in black ink on wove paper, possibly Asian (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000903) and another on cream Japanese paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K1000802). It is not clear who was responsible for the 'restoration' of the plate, which obviously dates from after publication in 1879.