Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Prince Genji in Exile at Suma.

1853

Schneiderman catalog 186 state .xii. 13 1/4 X 17 1/2 (sheet 18 5/8 x 25 5/8). Edition of 50 in this state, published by the Fine Art Society. A fine impression printed on cream wove paper with full margins. Toning in the image, otherwise good condition. Signed in pencil. Housed in a 22 x 28-inch archival mat, suitable for framing. Born in 1818, Sir Francis Seymour Haden was an etcher, collector and surgeon. He studied at the Derby School, Christ’s Hospital and University College in London. He also studied at the medical schools of the Sorbonne in Paris and at Grenoble. He became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1842 and he was made a fellow in 1857. He was an honorary surgeon to the Department of Science and Art from 1851 to 1867 and in 1847 he settled into a private practice. Haden was a vice-president of the obstetrical society of London and one of the founders of the Royal Hospital for Incurables in 1850. He was the first President of the Royal Society of Painter-Echers. In 1858, Haden encouraged James McNeil Whistler to work from nature and consequently, Whistler dedicated his first set of etchings entitled “French Set”, to Haden. The etchings were printed by Auguste Delâtre in Paris and marketed, with some help from Haden, in London. In 1859 Whistler settled in London and often visited Haden’s Sloane Street home. Whistler executed a number of paintings and etchings of domestic scenes within Haden’s home, among them “Reading By Lamplight...

The Biggest of All; Telephone and Telegraph Building. 1925. Etching. Wuerth 853. 9 7/8 x 11 7/8 (sheet 11 1/2 x 17 1/8). Edition probably 35. An atmospheric impression with plate tone, printed on antique laid paper...