20. Sir Francis Seymour Haden
(1818-1910)

Sunset in Ireland

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Haden, Sunset in Ireland

Sunset in Ireland

Etching, and drypoint, 1863, 138 x 215 mm., Drake 44, 1st published state; Harrington 51, 1st published state; Schneiderman 47 viii/xiv. Fine impression of this state, before the heavy reworking, clean wiped but with burr, on thin, laid japan paper with good margins, signed in pencil; two spots of foxing in the margins far from the plate mark. The image, of the Dundrum River in Ireland, is probably Haden's most famous and, in this case, clearly among his best. The foliage and branching, at which Haden excelled, is wonderfully atmospheric, the composition solid and full of depth and the play of light quite beautiful. But there could be no better example of the different directions being taken by Whistler and his brother-in-law at this time, the former becoming more and more experimental, the latter quite at home in conservative landscapes inspired by the example of Rembrandt.