William Lionel Wyllie RA (1851-1931) - HMS Victory firing a salute at Portsmouth

William Lionel Wyllie was one of the foremost British marine artists towards the end of the 19th century and at the start of the 20th century. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy (as well as being a Royal Academician) and was proficient in oils, watercolours and etchings. He had a great skill in etchings and was involved in the entire process himself. He used copper plates and then destroyed them after completing his modest output to make sure the works remained highly collectable. His skill as an etcher remains almost unrivalled amongst his contemporaries as he always managed to display both detail and atmosphere in each work.  Wyllie would sign his etchings in pencil and we only sell original works by the artist.
 
Wyllie's wife recalled: 'For the many etchings...every drawing was made from nature first, using nothing but black - not body colour, the lights just picked out. He was a rapid worker, and very accurate.' [1]
 
This etching is a depiction of HMS Victory firing a salute at Portsmouth Harbour. HMS Victory is perhaps the most famous ship in Britain's history being Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. The first-rate ship of the line is based in Portsmouth and Wyllie moved to the city in 1906.
 
Medium: Etching with drypoint on wove paper, signed in pencil l.l. 'W L WYLLIE', 20.9 x 48.3cm (etching size), framed. (42.5 x 68.7cm).
 
Provenance: N.W. Lott & H.J. Gerrish Ltd, St James's London (label verso).
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] Roger Quarm and John Wyllie,  'W.L. Wyllie: Marine Artist, 1851-1931', Chris Beetles Ltd: 1981, p.70.
 
Condition report: generally in good condition. There is some time staining from age (please see photos). The frame shows a small amount of wear too.