Mortimer Menpes (1855–1938) - Etching London From The Thames

Description

Condition

In fine condition.

Size

7 x 11cm (2.8" x 4.3")

Artist Biography

Painter and etcher, born in Port Adelaide, Australia. He studied at the Adelaide School of Design, and in London under Sir Edward Poynter at the Royal College of Art. Menpes became a close friend and protégé of Whistler in the 1880's and helped print his master's Venice etchings. In 1888 he visited Japan which had a big influence on his art. He travelled widely in Europe, visiting also India and the Far East. In 1904 Menpes wrote and published 'Whistler as I Knew Him', a vigorous and interesting story of his relationship with Whistler as both pupil and friend. He began to show at the Royal Academy in 1880 and was elected Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers in 1881, Royal Society of British Artists in 1885, New English Art Club in 1886, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, 1897 and Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1899.
During the Boer War, Menpes was sent to South African acting as a war artist for the weekly illustrated magazine Black & White. After the war was over he travelled extensively visiting Burma, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Japan, Kashmir, Mexico, Morocco, and Spain. Many of his illustrations were published in travel books by A & C Black. His book on the Delhi Durbar was an illustrated record of the commemoration in Delhi of the coronation of King Edward VII. For the last 30 or so years of his life, Menpes retired to Pangbourne from where he established and ran 'Menpes Fruit Farms'. Examples of his work are in the collections of the British Museum, Guildhall Art Gallery, Hunterian, Museums Sheffield, Tate Gallery, Torre Abbey Museum, Penlee House Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratif, Paris. various sites state his birth year as 1856, 57 or 58. Australian government records give 1855 as being correct.

Location

London, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom