The Steps, Gray's Inn |  Freer Gallery of Art (1888.17) | |
| Number: | 282 | |
| Date: | 1887 | |
| Medium: | etching | |
| Size: | 67 x 179 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at upper left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 7 | |
| Catalogues: | K.295; M.290 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (7) | ||
Steps, Gray's Inn probably dates from the summer of 1887, since it shows people sitting on the grass, and trees in full leaf. It is close in size to other etchings dating from 1887 including Dry Docks, Southampton [302] and Flower Market, Brussels [339]. The butterfly signature is consistent with this date.
It is not absolutely certain when it first went on sale: possibly as 'Steps' on 17 November 1887 - but this could possibly have been Little Steps, Chelsea [269] - and certainly as 'Steps Gray's Inn' to H. Wunderlich & Co. on 29 June 1888. 1
The 'Grey's Inn Set' also includes
The Long Seats, Gray's Inn [283] and The Hoop (Gray's Inn) [287].