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Clifford Addams

  1876 - 1942
 
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London County Council Hall under Construction

London County Council Hall under Construction   1919

Original etching and drypoint

Excellent signed proof impression, aside from the normal edition of 75 signed and numbered proofs. From the artist’s own personal collection.

£285



Waterloo Place sold

Waterloo Place   1912

Original etching with touches of drypoint

First state proof, before any of the tonal drypoint work was added. The artist's own working proof.

SOLD



Waterloo Place sold

Waterloo Place   1912

Original etching and drypoint

Excellent signed proof impression printed with considerable plate tone.

SOLD



An Obscure Turning, Venice

An Obscure Turning, Venice   c.1914

Original etching.

Early trial proof impression from the artist’s own personal collection, prior to the introduction of much heavy drypoiny work. Signed and further inscribed “A imp.” in pencil.

£520



A Cardinal’s Palace, Venice sold

A Cardinal’s Palace, Venice   c.1914

Original etching with drypoint.

Exceptionally rich and highly atmospheric hand titled proof printed in warm brown ink, with extensive painterly use of plate tone. Inscribed “A Cardinal’s Palace No.I”.

SOLD



A Cardinal’s Palace, Venice sold

A Cardinal’s Palace, Venice   c.1914

Original etching with drypoint.

Working proof from the artist's personal collection.

SOLD



Doorway at Night, Venice

Doorway at Night, Venice   1920

Original etching with drypoint.

Superb trial proof impression printed in black ink with considerable plate tone. Signed in pencil by the artist and inscribed “A imp” twice; further inscribed “Doorway at Night, Venice III”.

£480



Admiral’s House, Amsterdam

Admiral’s House, Amsterdam   1902-24

Original etching with drypoint.

Very fine signed proof impression in brown ink, printed by the artist himself. From the artist’s own personal collection.

£480



Blackfriars sold

Blackfriars   1914/1919

Original etching and drypoint

Unique proof with a pencil ‘butterfly’ introduced by hand, near the centre of the foreground wall – from the artist’s own personal collection.

SOLD



Westminster sold

Westminster   1912

Original etching

Proof from the artist’s own personal collection.

SOLD



War Declared: Under Charing Cross Bridge, August 4 1914 sold

War Declared: Under Charing Cross Bridge, August 4 1914   1914/1919

Original etching and drypoint

A very early proof in the second state (of five). The artist’s own personal working proof impression, inscribed in pencil, verso, “Property, Dawn Addams” (the artist’s granddaughter).

SOLD



Victory Loan Scene, Trafalgar Square, London, Christmas Eve sold

Victory Loan Scene, Trafalgar Square, London, Christmas Eve   1919

Original etching and drypoint

Working proof impression from the artist’s own personal collection.

SOLD



Parliament Square sold

Parliament Square   1920

Original etching and drypoint

Outstanding working proof impression from the artist's own personal collection.

SOLD



Parliament Square sold

Parliament Square   1920

Original etching and drypoint

Unique hand worked proof impression from the artist’s own personal collection, heavily worked up in dark chalk with the figures of angels in the sky above Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

SOLD

 

The accomplished etchings of the American printmaker Clifford Isaac Addams rank amongst some of the most impressive and atmospheric etched works by any of Whistler’s followers. Born in New Jersey, Clifford Addams was trained as apprentice to an architect. He won a travelling scholarship from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1899 which enabled him to travel to Paris to study painting. There he enrolled in Whistler’s newly established Académie Carmen, which was run by Whistler’s long-term model Carmen Rossi. It was here that Clifford Addams met and married Inez Bate and together they became apprenticed to Whistler, pledging the “Master faithfully to serve, his secrets keep and his lawful commands obey”. Inez was appointed Massière of the Académie until its closure, on Whistler’s instructions, in 1901. The Addams’ followed Whistler to London when he returned in 1902, for they were by now his legal apprentices, and they visited him regularly until his death the following year.

All of Clifford Addams’ etchings of London date from between the years 1902 and 1920. In 1920 Clifford Addams abandoned his wife and family, returning to America where he became a member of the Brooklyn, Chicago and Philadelphia Societies of Etchers – he had been elected president of the Philadelphia society by 1930. [more]