UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Old Putney Bridge

Impression: Colby College Museum of Art, Maine
Colby College Museum of Art, Maine
(2013.400)
Number: 185
Date: 1879
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 200 x 298 mm
Signed: butterfly at bottom (1-5); shaded (6-final)
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: Fine Art Society, 1879
No. of States: 7
Known impressions: 47
Catalogues: K.178; M.175; W.145
Impressions taken from this plate  (47)

STATE

Seven states are known before cancellation, which occurred in two stages.

State 1

Impression: K1780102
Signed with a butterfly near the lower edge, just to right of centre.
The composition is complete.

State 2

Impression: K1780205
The shadows on the bridge are strengthened.

State 3

Impression: K1780z03
Additions in drypoint include new vertical lines extending the reflections of the river bank, trees and buildings in the distance; new horizontal lines in the reflections of the pier in the centre; long horizontal lines among the ripples between the boats in the foreground and the bridge.

State 4

Impression: K1780202
New vertical drypoint shading is added under the pier in the centre, extending the reflections; short vertical lines extend and augment the reflections under the river banks.

State 5

Impression: K1780203
New vertical drypoint shading is added under the second pier from the left; more horizontal lines are added on the ripples in front of the bridge; light shading is added to the trees seen through the piers at far right; the reflection of the pier at extreme right is extended; new slanting lines shade the top of the cloud at the top.

State 6

Impression: K1780304
The butterfly is shaded.
Published by The Fine Arts Society, London, in 1879.

State 7

Impression: K1780404
Another row of ripples is added at lower right.
Some of the drypoint shading in the reflections under the piers has faded or been rubbed down.
Impressions vary considerably according to inking and wear. A late impression is reproduced below.
Impression: K1780415

State 7 (cancelled a)

Impression: K1780503
Cancelled with diagonal crossed lines.

State 7 (cancelled b)

Impression: K1780501
Cancelled with additional zigzags and diagonal crossed lines.