The Stone Breaker 1925 |
| |
Original etching.
Signed and dated in pencil.
Ref: Campbell Dodgson 57 iii/iii
S 150 x 182 mm; P 108 x 140 mm; I 105 x 137 mm
£370
|
|
|
Original Robert Sargent Austin etching.
Very good impression from the only edition of 40 signed proofs.
The Stone Breaker represents the culmination of Robert Sargent Austin’s skill as an etcher. Up to this date, 1925, the majority of Austin’s printed works had been made as pure etchings or as drypoints, with only a few plates showing mixed techniques. Austin had already won the coveted Prix de Rome on the strength of two of his etchings and now his etching technique had reached its peak. After making this plate he began to work in pure engraving and rarely returned to etching for the rest of his career.
The sculptor, James Woodford, posed for the figure of the Stone Breaker whilst Robert Austin was in Rome (Austin’s preparatory drawing is now in the British Museum), whilst the background townscape was based on a village near Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany.
Robert Sargent Austin chose an impression of this etching as his exhibition piece for the Royal Academy show in 1926.
On special tan/cream laid paper with margins. Faint mat line in outer margins and mild time tone verso, otherwise generally good original condition. Image surface excellent. |
|
