A Cross at Clearwell, Gloucestershire.
Print
early 19th century (made)
early 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Who are Letitia Byrne (1779–1849) and Elizabeth Byrne (1784–1874)?
Born in England, made prints in England
Printmaking activity: about 1795–1830
Letitia and Elizabeth were daughters engraver of the William Byrne, who trained all his five children in the family workshop. Letitia and Elizabeth specialised in making etchings and engravings for the expansive book market, though they also exhibited watercolours at the annual London exhibitions. Despite their superior skills as printmakers, their brother John took over the family workshop after their father’s death in 1805. All the unmarried siblings continued to live and work together in London in the early 19th century.
Born in England, made prints in England
Printmaking activity: about 1795–1830
Letitia and Elizabeth were daughters engraver of the William Byrne, who trained all his five children in the family workshop. Letitia and Elizabeth specialised in making etchings and engravings for the expansive book market, though they also exhibited watercolours at the annual London exhibitions. Despite their superior skills as printmakers, their brother John took over the family workshop after their father’s death in 1805. All the unmarried siblings continued to live and work together in London in the early 19th century.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | A Cross at Clearwell, Gloucestershire. (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving |
| Brief description | 'A Cross at Clearwell, Gloucestershire.', engraving by Letitia Byrne after George Samuel, early-19th century. |
| Physical description | Print showing a view of a clearing with a monument, mounted on steps. In the right distance is a building. There are figures gathered about the scene. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Drawn by G. Samuel. Etched by Letitia Byrne. A Cross at Clearwell, Gloucestershire.' (Lettered with title) |
| Gallery label | Like their father, Letitia and Elizabeth Byrne specialised in topographical engravings and etchings depicting England, Wales, Italy, and colonial India. They often produced these as book illustrations for larger commercial publishers on a freelance basis. In 1805, after her father’s death, Letitia Byrne did try to publish a series of topographical prints herself. The scheme failed, and she did not attempt to self-publish again.(2022) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | Who are Letitia Byrne (1779–1849) and Elizabeth Byrne (1784–1874)? Born in England, made prints in England Printmaking activity: about 1795–1830 Letitia and Elizabeth were daughters engraver of the William Byrne, who trained all his five children in the family workshop. Letitia and Elizabeth specialised in making etchings and engravings for the expansive book market, though they also exhibited watercolours at the annual London exhibitions. Despite their superior skills as printmakers, their brother John took over the family workshop after their father’s death in 1805. All the unmarried siblings continued to live and work together in London in the early 19th century. |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1966 pub. HMSO 1967 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.609-1966 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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