William Lionel Wyllie RA (1851-1931) - Somerset House

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 Somerset House on the Thames in London. The grand neoclassical building has a long history and for Wyllie (as a Royal Academician) the most important part would have been when it hosted the Royal Academy in the North Wing until 1837 when it moved to the National Gallery. The busy scene of the Thames shows the level of use it had at the start of the 20th Century.
 
The picture has a label verso saying that this etching was limited to 150 impressions only.
 
Medium: Etching with drypoint on wove paper, signed in pencil l.l. 'W L WYLLIE', 12.1 x 29.8cm (etching size), framed (32.3 x 52.1cm).
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] Roger Quarm and John Wyllie,  'W.L. Wyllie: Marine Artist, 1851-1931', Chris Beetles Ltd: 1981, p.70.
 
Condition report: generally in very good condition for its age. There are a few minor markings including a white spot in the sky. There is also a small black mark around the centre that is on the inside of the glass.  The frame shows a small amount of wear. Please see photos.