William Strang’s etching, “In the Dungeon”, 1885

William Strang (1859–1921)

“In the Dungeon” (aka “Christian and Hopeful in the Dungeon”), 1885 (date advised by Frank Newbolt [1911]: https://archive.org/details/etchingsofwillia00newb/page/n41/mode/2up), published in London by George Routledge and Sons as an illustration to John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, c1895.

Etching printed in a green-black ink on buff wove paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15.8 x 21.5 cm; (plate) 12.5 x 17 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s initials (lower left) “W. S.”

Strang 87 (David Strang 1962, “William Strang: Catalogue of his Etchings and Engravings”, Glasgow, University of Glasgow, p, 36, cat. no. 87).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“A stone-clad dungeon; against a wall, to left, Hopeful slouches, looking desp[o]ndent, to his left, Christian kneels, his hands clasped together and his eyes cast heavenwards. Published in 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan, published in 1895 by John C. Nimmo. Final state. 1894 Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1943-1113-273).

Condition: a strong (near faultless) impression laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper (to allow for handling and mounting). Beyond a small dot in the upper margin the sheet is in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing, or signs of handling.

I am selling this very beautiful etching showing the pilgrim, Christian and his companion, Hope, in the Dungeon of Despair—the two characters are imprisoned by Giant Despair and his wife, Diffidence, for trespassing/sleeping in the grounds of the Doubting-Castle (see pp. 128–135)— for a total cost of AU$182 (currently US$133.72/EUR113.04/GBP96.38 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 superb etching, 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