John Taylor Arms

New York Skyline

1921

'Manhattan Bridge', etching, c. 1920, proofs only. Signed in ink in the image, lower right. A fine, rich impression, in warm black ink, on cream wove ...

Alonzo C. Webb, 'Bridges of Florence', etching, 1929, edition 100. Signed and titled in pencil. Signed and dated in the plate, lower left. A superb, richly-inked impression, in warm ...

John Taylor Arms, 'Limoges (French Church Series #32)', etching, 1932, edition 142, third (final) state impressions, Fletcher 244. Signed, dated, and annotated 'Ed 100 III' in pencil. A superb, finely detailed impression, in warm black ink, on antique, pale gray laid paper, with full margins (1 1/16 to 1 1/2 inches); adhesive stains in the bottom left and right sheet corners, well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition. Matted to museum standards, unframed. A view of Limoges, France and the Saint-Martial Bridge from the far side of the Vienne river. According to Fletcher, author of the catalogue raisonné on the artist's graphic work, this etching is among the artist’s preferred plates. Published references: "An Appreciation to John Taylor Arms 1887-1953", in PRINT, Vol. VIII #5 P. viii, Feb.-March 1954. Impressions of this print are in the permanent collections of the Davis Museum at Wellesley College, National Gallery of Art, Saint John’s University, Smithsonian Institution, and Wake Forest University. ABOUT THE ARTIST “John Taylor Arms will live on and on and future generations centuries from now will marvel at his work... . As a friend and as a man, he fully matched his superb work.” —John Winkler, printmaker Born in Washington, D.C. in 1887, John Taylor Arms attended the Lawrenceville School and began the study of law at Princeton University. In 1907, he transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and took up the study of architecture. Arms evolved his unique drafting style, with its highly realistic, precise detail and exquisitely rendered effects of light, from his experience and practice as an architectural student. He graduated in 1911 and completed a master’s degree the following year. He then worked as a draftsman with the well-known Carrere and Hastings Company in New York. In 1913 Arms was given a hobbyist’s etching set, and he began to dabble with copperplate and acid. In 1915, after copying a handful of prints by Jongkind and other Etching Revivalists, Arms created his first original etching. His early experiments were picturesque views of European villages, reflecting the influence of Whistler. He inked and printed several of these plates in color in the manner of Charles Mielatz...

Anton Schutz, 'Philadelphia – Broad Street', etching, edition not stated, circa 1927. Signed in pencil. Annotated 'Philadelphia Broad St. Showing City Hall', in another hand, in the ...

Anton Schutz, 'U.S. Chamber of Commerce', etching, edition not stated, 1928. Signed in pencil. Annotated 'U.S. Chamber of Commerce S/516', in another hand, in the bottom right margin...

Anton Schutz, 'Cleveland Public Square', etching, edition not stated, 1927. Signed in pencil. Signed and dated in the plate, lower left. Annotated 'Cleveland Public Square S489', in another hand, in the bottom right margin. A fine, richly-inked impression, in brown/black ink, with skillfully-controlled plate tone, on cream wove Japan paper; the full sheet with margins (1 5/8 to 3 inches), in excellent condition. Archivally sleeved, unmatted. Image size 11 7/8 x 8 7/8 inches; sheet size 17 1/4 x 12 1/8 inches. ABOUT THIS IMAGE 'Public Square' is the two-block (formerly four-block) central plaza of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Based on an 18th-century New England model, it was part of the original 1796 town plan overseen by Moses Cleveland and remains today as an integral part of the city's center. The 10-acre (4.0 ha) square is centered on the former intersection of Superior Avenue and Ontario Street.[2] Cleveland's three tallest buildings, Key Tower, 200 Public Square, and the Terminal Tower, face the square. Public Square was part of the Connecticut Land Company's original plan for the city, overseen by Moses Cleveland in the 1790s. The square is signature of the layout for early New England towns, which Cleveland was modeled after. While it initially served as a common pasture for settlers' animals, less than a century later in 1879 Public Square became the first street in the world to be lit with electric street lights—arc lamps designed by Cleveland native Charles F. Brush. The square was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1975. Public Square is often the site of political rallies and civic functions, including a free annual Independence Day concert by the Cleveland Orchestra...

John Taylor Arms was known for making such finely drawn etchings that commercial tools were not good enough: He regularly used sewing needles with corks for handles. Fletcher 284. Ed...

John Taylor Arms was known for making such finely drawn etchings that commercial tools were not good enough: He regularly used sewing needles with corks ...

Basilica of Madeleine, Vezelay Etching, 1929 Signed and dated lower right (see photo) Annotated: "Third State" lower left Printed on a sheet of old book paper From: French Church Ser...

The Great Church, Nashville Etching & aquatint, c. 1936 Signed in pencil lower right A very rare trial proof Annotated "2" lower left corner recto Three total impressions in the esta...

Nashville in Winter Etching, c. 1928 Signed in pencil lower right (see photo) Very small edition A rare image of early Nashville, Indiana Excellent impression with plate tone in the sky First state before the aquatint depicting a winter nocturne...

Michael Di Cerbo was born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1947. He received his BFA and MFA from Pratt Institute. He is a member of the National Academy of Art, the Society of American...