Mortimer Menpes’ drypoint, “Musée de Cluny”, c.1908

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

“Musée de Cluny” (title as first exhibited), 1907–08, showing the “façade of the Cluny Museum in Paris … from the Cluny Gardens” (Morgan [2012] p. 160) printed by the artist in an edition of 50 impressions and signed in pencil below the platemark at lower right, “Mortimer Menpes imp”, and with Menpes’ inventory number inscribed in pencil at lower left corner, “131”.

Drypoint with surface tone on buff-coloured wove (Japan?) paper. Note that Morgan (2012) advises: “All known impressions on antique laid paper” (p. 160); nevertheless, I can see no chain-lines of laid paper in the sheet. The sheet has restorations and has been backed with a support sheet providing wider margins.

Size: (irregularly cut sheet) 34.3 x 47 cm; (plate) 30.3 x 41 cm.

Lifetime impression of the only state.

Morgan 335 (Gary Morgan 2012, “The Etched Works of Mortimer Menpes [1855–1938]”, vol. 2 [“Etchings, 1901–1913”], Adelaide, Stuart Galleries, p. 160, cat. no. 335 [Menpes’ inventory number: 131).

Condition: a richly inked and skilfully wiped impression, laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. There is a restored tear in the upper left and the upper-left corner of the margin has been restored along with other fractures in the margin and there is a thumbprint (of the artist?) in the lower left corner.

I am selling this magnificent, pencil-signed drypoint that is one of Menpes’ largest prints and very rare—only 50 impressions were made—for AU$604 (currently US$403.71/EUR365.28/GBP321.55 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 major drypoint showing Menpes’ admiration for his friend, James McNeill Whistler, in the insightful wiping of a plate to add drama and mood/atmosphere—note that this print was executed only four years before Menpes wrote his book “Whistler as I knew him” (London 1904)—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