W. Wise, Bearded Warrior with Shield, 1875, Etching

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A powerfully built, heavily bearded man is shown at half length, turned slightly to the left, his dark eyes wide … Read more A powerfully built, heavily bearded man is shown at half length, turned slightly to the left, his dark eyes wide and alert as if he has just caught sight of something beyond the frame. He wears a tall dark cap and a loose tunic, and a long curved dagger in an ornamented sheath is thrust through his belt across his chest. At the right he grips a large round shield studded with bosses, its rim catching the light, and at the lower left a small decorated metal piece glints in the shadow. Behind him a stormy sky is laid in with broad, dark strokes, opening in a band of light at the horizon. The plate is lettered "w. Wise. After etty" in small capitals at lower right. William etty (1787 to 1849) was the leading english history painter of his day, a member of the royal academy famed for his rich color, and alongside his large subject pictures he painted many single-figure studies in exotic dress. William wise was an english etcher active in the 1870s and 1880s who produced plates after paintings for the illustrated art press. This is an etching with a strong, dramatic tonal range: wise uses dense crosshatching for the beard, cap and sky, and lighter, more open lines in the face, the hands and the polished metal of the dagger and shield, so the figure stands out boldly from the darkness. The plate mark is visible around the image. A bold piece for a library, a hallway or a collection of orientalist and costume subjects, best in a dark wood frame that matches its intensity. Condition: age toning, darker at the edges; handling soiling along the edges and scattered foxing in the margins. Printed image clean. This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed. See less