Thomas Riley, “Roxana”, 1882

Thomas Riley (1856–1892)

“Roxana,” 1822, commissioned by Philip Gilbert Hamerton (1834–1894) and published in London in 1882 by Seeley & Co (also known as L & G Seeley, fl. 1839–1900s) in the art periodical, “The Portfolio.”

Based on the commentary on page 25 of “The Portfolio” (1882), I understand that at the time Riley created this etching, he was working with the renowned English painter Sir Edward John Poynter (1836–1919), assisting him in painting the figures for the decoration of the Dome of St Paul’s. The subject of this etched portrait is described as “an Indian girl.” Interestingly, the commentary highlights the “leafy background,” suggesting that it “appears to have been suggested by decorative painting,” and noting that such a background “has rarely been attempted in etching” (ibid.).

Etching with plate tone printed in umber ink on cream laid paper (watermark “MBM. PORTFOLIO”) with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 34.5 x 23.9 cm; (plate) 26.5 x 23.9 cm; (image borderline)  24.4 x 18 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (lower left corner) “Tho. Riley”.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression. The sheet is in a near pristine condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Price & Shipping: AU$288 in total (approximately US$188.44 / €162.84 / £143.29), including worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties are the buyer's responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this exquisite portrait, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Alphonse Legros’ etching, “Portrait of Edward John Poynter”, 1877; photogravure after Poynter, “Study for the Head of St. John”, 1882

(left) Alphonse Legros (1837–1911)

“Portrait of Edward John Poynter” (aka “Portrait de E.-J. Poynter, Esq^re” [Poulet-Malassis’ title]), 1877, published in London as an illustration to Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s (1834-1894) annual, “The Portfolio”, 1877, opposite p.12.

Etching with drypoint with pale plate tone printed in brown ink on laid paper with Van Gelder watermark.

Size: (sheet) 34.8 x 23.6 cm; (plate) 25.7 x 17 cm; (image borderline) 21.5 x 15.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “A. Legros”.

State v (of v) with the addition of the artist’s name.

Poulet-Malassis 42.v (Auguste Poulet-Malassis 1877, “Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre gravé et lithographié de M. Alphonse Legros”, Paris, J Baur, pp. 23–24, cat. no. 42 [see https://archive.org/details/catalogueraisonn00poul/page/22/mode/2up]).

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(right) Photogravure after Edward John Poynter (aka Sir Edward John Poynter) (1836–1919)

“Study for the Head of St. John”, 1882, photogravure after a chalk study for an abandoned project for the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, published in London as an illustration to “The Portfolio”, 1882, opposite p. 96. See another study by Poynter and description of the abandoned St. Paul's Cathedral project described by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1919-1216-31).

Photogravure on laid paper with “MBM Portfolio” watermark and full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 35.5 x 24.3 cm; (plate) 27.3 x 20.6 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper left) “Mar.4,80”.

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Condition: both prints are strong impressions (almost faultless) in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this pair of historically significant prints for AU$377 as the total price for the pair (currently US$258.59/EUR253.96/GBP214.85 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail 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 pair of prints related to the painter, printmaker and sculptor, Edward John Poynter, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.