John Park’s etching, “Shields Harbour (Evening)”, 1879

John Park (1851–1919)

“Shields Harbour (Evening)” (aka “Shields Harbor: Evening at Mouth of River Tyne”), 1879, initially printed by François Liénard (fl.c1860s–1880s) and published in 1879 Paris in the periodical, “L'Art.” This impression is from the later 1888–89 edition published as plate 44 [“Planche XLIV”] in M K Halévy’s “L’Eau-Forte”, vol. 2, [n.p.] page 97, with the description: “The sun has just set. In the background, through the darkness one sees the masts of the fishing boats; to the left are two high towers, with illuminated dials” (p. xviii). I understand that the etching is based on Park’s painting in the Collection of M J Stevenson (as noted by Halévy).

Etching on heavy buff-coloured wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 29.4 x 38.9 cm; (plate) 25.4 x 35.1 cm; (image borderline) 19.5 x 30 cm.

Inscribed in the plate above the image borderline: (centre) “Planche XLIV.”

The British Museum offers the following descriptions of this print:

“A dimly lit view of the quayside of the River Tyne; masts visible to the left and a group of buildings with light emanating from their windows (right)” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2019-7015-451);“View of a harbour in the evening, with a small boat in the right foreground ashore on the beach, two lighthouses behind, masts of mooring ships in the left middle distance” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1880-0214-134).

Condition: a richly inked and well printed impression with wide margins in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this marvellously dramatic etching of what must be twin lighthouses glowing in the last vestiges of a sunset with fishing nets and boats in the foreground—I understand from reading about the Scottish fishermen of the late 19^th century who used the harbour at Shields, that they landed about 40 million herring each year!—for the total cost of AU$212 (currently US$163.86/EUR134.68/GBP116.40 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 amazing etching that to my eyes is almost haunting in its eeriness, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.