Mortimer Menpes’ etching with drypoint, “Limehouse”, c.1886–89

Mortimer Menpes (aka Mortimer Luddington Menpes) (1855–1938)

“Limehouse”, c.1886–89, plate 8 from the series of twelve plates, “The Grey River”, published in London by Seeley and Co. Ltd., in 1889 and printed by the artist in a limited edition of 230 impressions. Julie Robinson (2014) advises that “The Grey River” series “... represent views along the River Thames, spanning the area from Westminster to Greenwich” (p. 50). Gary Morgan (2012) notes that the series were exhibited at the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (RE) exhibition, in London in 1890 and, interestingly, the portfolio of the twelve prints were originally sold for “5 guineas per set” (p. 212).

Etching with drypoint and plate-tone printed in brown ink on fine buff-coloured laid paper (with watermark), pencil-signed by the artist and also signed in the plate.

Size: (sheet) 16.2 x 20.2 cm; (plate) 10.6 x 14.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate:(lower right) “Menpes del. et imp.”

Inscribed in pencil below the platemark: (right) “Menpes imp.”

Lifetime impression of the only state.

Morgan 142 (Gary Morgan 2012, “The Etched Works of Mortimer Menpes [1855–1938]”, vol. 1 [“The Early Years, 1855–1900”], Adelaide, Stuart Galleries, p. 212, cat. no. 142.

See also Julie Robinson 2014, “The World of Mortimer Menpes: Painter Etcher, Raconteur”, Adelaide, Art Gallery of South Australia, p. 50.

Condition: a richly inked and sensitively wiped impression, hinged within an ivory window-mount. Beyond two wormholes in the margin at right and a pencil line around the edges of the margin, the sheet is in an excellent condition.

I am selling this subtlety nuanced pencil-signed drypoint for AU$504 in total (currently US$336.87/EUR304.80/GBP268.31 at the time of posting 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 small gem of finely worked drypoint and etched lines—mindful that Menpes had explained in 1891 that he sought “to get the tone of my proofs as close to the tone of ivory as possibly” (Morgan [2012], vol. 1., p. 25)—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold