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Samuel Palmer

1805 – 1881

The Herdsman’s Cottage <i>or</i> Sunset by Samuel Palmer
 

The Herdsman’s Cottage or Sunset   1850

  Original etching.
Signed in the plate.
Ref: Lister 3 ii/ii
S 367 x 262 mm; P 124 x 104 mm; I 98 x 78 mm
SOLD
 
Outstanding impression on large paper from the first published issue of this remarkable etching, as issued for The Portfolio in November 1872 (where it was erroneously titled Sunrise). This etching went through two further editions for subsequent publications by P.G. Hamerton (Examples of Modern Etching in 1875 and Etching and Etchers in 1880), impressions from which cannot be compared to the quality of this first published issue. The plate for this etching is known to have been destroyed by 1882.

A beautiful example of Samuel Palmer’s romantic pastoral vision, the ingenious handling of light throughout this etched work is truly remarkable. The year 1850 represents the turning point in Samuel Palmer’s abilities as an etcher, for it was in this year that he unlocked the secret of how to portray the true poetry of nature with a charm which had never been seen in etching before the publication of The Skylark and his creation of this brilliant etching of Sunset – The Herdsman’s Cottage.

On cream laid paper, with armorial crest watermarked, with full margins and deckle edge. Very good original condition.