Alfred Hartley (1855-1933) - Etching In Richard Jeffries' Country

Description

A charming etching by the British artist Alfred Hartley (1855-1933), monogrammed within the plate and signed in graphite below. The title inscribed verso refers to Richard Jefferies, known for his depictions of English rural life in essays and books, who grew up on a farm in Wiltshire. The work is smartly presented in a black frame. On paper.

Condition

Some discolouration to the paper; however, the condition is good for a picture of this age overall. Light scuffing to the frame.

Size

22.5 x 21.5cm (8.9" x 8.5")
Plate: 21 x 20cm (8.3" x 7.9")
Framed Size: 43 x 40.5cm (16.9" x 15.9")

Artist Biography

Alfred Hartley (1855-1933) was an etcher and painter of landscapes and portraits born in Hertfordshire. He studied at the Royal College of Art and at Westminster School of Art. Circa 1890, he relocated to Dunmow, Essex, where he became a member of the Ipswich Art Club. He then relocated to St. Ives in 1904, with his wife Nora Hartley, who was also a painter. During his time in Cornwall, Hartley forged a reputation as a master in etching and coloured aquatint and developed an international acclaim for his print work. He was an early member of the Society of Graver-Printmakers in Colour. He was also a member of the Art Workers' Guild and the St. Ives Arts Club and was soon elected to the St. Ives Society of Artists. Dogged by arthritic ill-health for most of his life, in 1931 he relocated to Llandrindod Wells, a spa town in Wales, hoping for a respite to his ailments. Hartley also showed at the Newlyn Art Gallery, Paris Salon, Royal Academy, and Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. He was elected as a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1890, Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1899, and Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers in 1897. Examples of his work are in the collections of the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Plymouth Art Gallery, and Nottingham Castle Museum.