William Lionel Wyllie RA (1851-1931) - Naples, Entrance to the Harbour

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 was part of a set of 6 compositions depicting the Mediterranean that Wyllie produced. Each work was limited to 160 before the plates were destroyed. This work depicts the entrance to Naples Harbour. The other works were: Gibraltar, Villefranche, Mount Vesuvius, Malta, The Pyramids (which we currently also have for sale). All of the works were done in 1913.
 
Medium: Etching with drypoint on wove paper, signed in pencil l.l. 'W L WYLLIE', 16 x 37.3cm (etching size), framed (38.1 x 56.8cm).
 
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 for its age. There is a small bit of time staining. This is more obvious on the edges next the mount. A new mount would help the picture. The frame shows some wear. Please see photos.