Often as I collect pieces of art, they may say or not by whom they are by.  It is then that my search begins for the artist who created the pieces that have intrigued me.  I have numerous pieces which I continue to search for information on.  Luckily many pieces are signed or depending on their pictorial content are not too hard to research.  Today, three etchings – one known – one researched  – and one not yey found.

Bacchus and Ariadne
by JMW Turner/C Cousen etching @ 1878

This very fine etching after #JMW Turner by C Cousens published by Virtue & Co, London, I believe, around 1878.  It has been lightly coloured  by hand.  The etching work is very fine.  Ariadne, daughter of Minos, King of Crete, was deserted by Theseus on the island of Naxos; the etching shows her discovery by Bacchus, who made her his bride.  The Roman god Bacchus was known as Dionysus by the Greeks. He was the youngest of the gods and the only one to have a mortal mother. Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, wine-making and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy.  An easy piece to research – the next slightly harder. #BacchusandAriadne

Yes Sir! Black Labradour Retriever – Bramshaw Bob by Rueben Ward Binks

A truly beautiful aquatint with etching and then hand coloured.  It is, alas, slightly damaged by a water stain.  It has a monogram in the lower right side which says WB.  It took only a short time before I found out who the monogram belonged to.  When one deals with such fine quality etchings and colouring the artist is generally of some repute.  This is no exception. The etching is by #ReubenWardBinks a very well known canine artist.  He used a variety of media – dry point, etching, aquatint, pastel, and watercolour.  He painted dogs for three generations of the British royal family, and among his patrons were four successive monarchs.  He was frequently asked to attend the Royal shoots at Sandringham in order to sketch the sporting dogs at work.  #YesSir-BramshawBob.

And now to the unknown artist.

Penitents
artist unknown @ 1843

A hand coloured aquatint entitled #Penitents.  It is a fine foil to another of my etchings which is called ‘Easter Blessing’.  They may even be from the same set or publication.  I will continue my search for information on this piece and maybe some day I might just stumble into something.

Easter Blessing
hand-coloured aquatint