Augustus Edwin John

1879 – 1961

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Benjamin Evans c.1901/02

The original copper plate etched by Augustus John. Unique.

Provenance: From the personal collection of the artist and thence by descent.

£2,100

The Woman in the Arbour prior to 1906

The original copper plate etched by Augustus John. Unique.

Provenance: From the personal collection of the artist and thence by descent.

£1,500

The Quarry Folk, No.2 1906

The original copper plate etched by Augustus John. Unique.

Provenance: From the personal collection of the artist and thence by descent.

£1,500

The Flowered Toque [A Girl’s Head – H] c.1913/1919

Original etching

Very good impression, printed with considerable plate tone. From the only published edition of 50 signed proofs, issued in 1919.

SOLD

The Brook prior to 1906

Original etching

Excellent impression printed with considerable plate tone. From the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

The Little Troglodyte

Original etching with drypoint

Excellent impression from the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

Nude Girl Standing, Looking Up prior to 1906

Original etching with drypoint.

Excellent impression with strong etched line. From the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

The Everglades

Original etching

Very good, clear impression, from the only published edition of 25 proofs, issued in 1906.

SOLD

Girl with a Sack c.1903/5

Original etching with drypoint.

Excellent impression, printed with plate tone. From the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

La Gravida 1902

Original pencil drawing and etching.

Unique pencil drawing and etching, prior to the earliest recorded state of the etched work.

SOLD

Nude Seated: Interior 1906

Original etching with drypoint

Superb impression with rich burr, from the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

Fruit Sellers - C c.1906

Original etching with drypoint.

Very rare early proof impression. One of only two or three impressions printed in the third state, before the signature in the plate and prior to the only published edition.

SOLD

The Old Haberdasher 1903

The original copper plate etched by Augustus John. Unique.

Provenance: From the personal collection of the artist and thence by descent.

SOLD

The Old Haberdasher 1903

Original etching with drypoint.

Trial proof in the final state of the plate; a proof aside from the only edition of 25 numbered impressions issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

William Butler Yeats 1907

Original etching and drypoint, signed in pencil.

Outstanding proof impression in the third state of the plate. A truly exceptional signed proof impression of this famous portrait etching. From the Albert M. Bender Collection, San Francisco Museum of Art.

SOLD

Girl with a Black Hat 1901

Original etching.

Excellent impression printed with considerable plate tone and signed by John with his full signature, “Augustus E. John”. From the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

Girl under a tree c.1903/5

Original etching.

Very fine impression printed with delicate plate tone. From the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

Lady with a Necklace 1902

Original etching, signed in pencil.

Outstanding proof impression of
the artist’s most elaborate portrait of his first wife, Ida.
A particularly beautiful proof printed with considerable plate tone, from the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued through the Chenil Gallery in 1906.

SOLD

Esther 1903

Original etching with drypoint.

Superb impression printed with considerable plate tone, as issued in the only edition of 25 signed and numbered proofs, published by the Chenil Gallery in 1906.

SOLD

Nude Girl Seated, with one Knee Raised

Original etching.

Very good impression printed with considerable plate tone and wiped to create good contrast. From the only published edition of 50 signed proofs, as issued by Knewstub in 1919.

SOLD

Mr. Beard c.1901-02

Original etching.

Exceptionally rare – one of only 3 proofs printed in the first state of the plate. The plate was later cut down considerably on three sides and only first published in its reduced state in an edition of 50 impressions in 1919.

SOLD

Old Arthy 1902

Original etching.

Outstanding, rich impression, from the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued by J. Knewstub in 1906.

SOLD

Old Man, Seated c.1902

Original etching.

Excellent impression from the only published edition of 25 signed proofs, as issued through the Chenil Gallery in 1906.
With one much later, sketchy exception, this work is Augustus John’s only etching of the male nude.

SOLD

Portrait of the Artist: bust, in an oval c.1901/2

The original copper plate etched by Augustus John, depicting his famous self-portrait in an oval. Unique.

Provenance: From the personal collection of the artist and thence by descent.

SOLD

Augustus John was one of the leading figures of early 20th century British art. His genius was apparent from the outset during his time at the Slade School of Art and he went on to become probably the most famous artist ever to have emerged from Wales. Augustus John achieved fame and notoriety in almost equal measure through the bold and independent modernistic style of his art and through his reputation for reckless drinking and womanising.

Augustus John took to etching with the gifted talent of a natural printmaker – his etching technique emerging fully fledged within the space of the single year 1901, whilst teaching art in Liverpool. John’s early plates were etched without commercial intent and were not published in a formal edition until issued by Knewstub through his Chenil Gallery in 1906. [more]