John White Abbott

Original John White Abbott etching with aquatint.

Very good impression from the collection of Mrs. J. White Abbott, thence by descent. This is one of the impressions referred to by A.P. Oppé in his reference catalogue on John White Abbott’s printed works.

Inscribed in pencil on original support mount “The Old Ouse Bridge. York. Engraved White Abbott. 1820”, as described by Oppé in his catalogue listing. Signed by John White Abbott with his initials in the plate on the stern of the rowing boat at the right of the image. Oppé’s catalogue records that Mrs. White Abbott had another impression of this extremely rare original print with engraved lettering reading “J.W. Abbott pinxit et fecit”.

This unique proof is trimmed to the image and mounted on a support sheet with stray adhesive in places, as prepared by either the artist or a member of his family. On the reverse of the support sheet is a pencil inscription by a family member which reads: “The Old Ouse Bridge, York” Engraved in 1820 from a drawing he probably made on June 13 1791 and possibly No.3 in his Northern Tour. WA. John White Abbott made only one tour of the North of England and the number refers to the numbers he wrote on the sketches with which he returned. This is the only original print made by John White Abbott to feature a view outside the bounds of his native county of Devon.