Alfred Louis Brunet-Debaines’ etching, “View of Advocate’s Close in Edinburgh”, 1878, after William Ewart Lockhart

Alfred Louis Brunet-Debaines (1845–1939)

“View of Advocate’s Close in Edinburgh”, 1878, published on page 164 in the art periodical, “The Portfolio”, no. 9, 1878, after a drawing by William Ewart Lockhart (1846–1900) (see a related print by Brunet-Debaines after Lockhart also published in the “The Portfolio” in 1878: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1879-0614-120). This etching was also published by Seeley, Jackson & Halliday (fl. 1867–1880) in 1878 as an illustration to Robert Louis Stevenson’s (1850–1894) “Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes” (see p. 6: https://ia803106.us.archive.org/5/items/edinburghpictur00stev/edinburghpictur00stev.pdf).

Etching on laid paper with “PORTFOLIO” watermark.

Size: (sheet) 33.2 x 23.3 cm: (plate) 24.9 x 15.5 cm; (image borderline) 22.6 x 13.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “W E Lockhart RSA 1878”; (partially obscured in ink at lower right) “A. Brunet-Debaines sc”.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “View of Advocate's Close in Edinburgh: a narrow street with buildings on either side; figures seen in the doorway of their houses including a woman washing in the left foreground; behind her, a woman carrying an infant; at right, a woman standing in the doorway; after Lockhart; published in 'Portfolio' No. 9, p. 164. 1878 Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1879-0614-135).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression. Beyond a few minor spots the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or signs of handling.

I am selling this sensitively executed etching with an extraordinary sliver of sky (negative space) accentuating the narrowness of the winding street populated with local folk engaged in their everyday activities in nineteenth century Edinburgh, for the total cost of AU$266 (currently US$176.79/EUR172.10/GBP149.57 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this marvellous grim view of urban life in a narrow street in nineteenth century Scotland, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.