William Lionel Wyllie RA (1851-1931) - Valletta Harbour, Malta

William Lionel Wyllie was one of the foremost British marine artists towards the end of the 19th century and at the start of the 20th century. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy (as well as being a Royal Academician) and was proficient in oils, watercolours and etchings. He had a great skill in etchings and was involved in the entire process himself. He used copper plates and then destroyed them after completing his modest output to make sure the works remained highly collectable. His skill as an etcher remains almost unrivalled amongst his contemporaries as he always managed to display both detail and atmosphere in each work.  Wyllie would sign his etchings in pencil and we only sell original works by the artist.
 
Wyllie's wife recalled: 'For the many etchings...every drawing was made from nature first, using nothing but black - not body colour, the lights just picked out. He was a rapid worker, and very accurate.' [1]
 
This etching is titled 'Valletta, Malta' and shows an Admiralty "S" Class Destroyer leading in a "Royal Sovereign" Class Battleship. It's a great example of Wyllie's Mediterranean depictions. This work has excellent provenance and was sold through the Parker Gallery in 1999 for £500. The original invoice and correspondence with the Parker Gallery will be included with this picture. This etching is numbered 6/50 and is an original signed proof by Wyllie.
 
Medium: Etching with drypoint on wove paper, signed in pencil l.l. 'W L WYLLIE', 16.25 x 38 cm (etching size), framed. 
 
Provenance: The Parker Gallery, London (label verso together with original invoice).
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] Roger Quarm and John Wyllie,  'W.L. Wyllie: Marine Artist, 1851-1931', Chris Beetles Ltd: 1981, p.70.
 
Condition report: generally very good. The frame shows a small amount of wear on the corners. There is a small mark on the mount at the bottom but this is not very noticeable. Please see photos.