UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Venice

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1904.294)
Number: 213
Date: 1879/1880
Medium: etching
Size: 200 x 293 mm
Signed: no
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 4
Catalogues: K.231; M.228
Impressions taken from this plate  (4)

TECHNIQUE

This is an etching, with no drypoint additions. One impression is extensively worked over in grey ink and brush indicating possible changes and additions to the composition, including shading on the sail to the left of Santa Maria della Salute in the centre, the clouds, the gondolas and shading on the water (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310104). None of these changes were carried out.

PRINTING

Only five or six impressions were printed. Three bear related inscriptions, probably written by early owners. One, possibly written by Otto Henry Bacher (1856-1909), reads ''Venice Oct 25 80 Plate destroyed - Rare - only 5 proofs' (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310102). Another, possibly by Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904), reads 'Venice - Plate destroyed by Whistler in Venice after printing 5 or 6 proofs -' (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310106). Finally, an inscription on an impression owned by George Aloysius Lucas (1824-1909) reads 'not catalogued / plate destroyed / only 6 proofs taken - all states - / Venice' (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310103). The sellers of these impressions were clearly determined to let collectors know how rare the etchings were.
It was printed in black ink on cream paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310102); off-white wove (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310103, Graphic with a link to impression #K2310104) and ivory laid paper (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310106). All but one (Graphic with a link to impression #K2310103) are stained, discoloured or damaged.