Study: Vienna, Unloading bricks, Ghent (21.725) 72.3×85.9cm, red and black chalk drawing, inscription b.l.: ‘Ghent. FB 1906’. Prov: Brangwyn gift, 1914. Exh: Albertina, 1914 (41). Vienna, 1922 (124). Lit & Ill: Studio The, West W K, ‘Some examples of recent work by Mr Frank Brangwyn ARA’, Vol 52, No 215, February 1911, p18, 19. Herrmann, 1992 (109). Ill: Zwanzig Graphische Arbeiten, (19).
Final etching above
1906-1909
Zinc, 57.7×67.3cm
Edition: 1st (trial) state: 5 impressions, outline with few shadows. Brangwyn started work on this etching in 1906 and the work was listed in Newbolt’s catalogue as ‘Ghent, 1906’, oddly enough the size Newbolt quotes, 50.8×40.5cm, is smaller than the final work. 2nd (published) state: Plate rebitten and deepened and contrasts intensified. 150 proofs published in 1909. The Whitechapel Art Gallery catalogue wrongly stated that the plate was destroyed.
Owners: Amsterdam (RP-P-1927-795). Brighton (FA207148) Brangwyn gift, 1935. Bruges (0.2/38) signed in full in pencil b.r., Brangwyn gift. Brussels (S.III 65680 2nd state). Chicago (1927.2371, 2nd state, brown print) Charles Deering Collection. Glasgow (PR.1944.3.ay) inscribed b.r. ‘Frank Brangwyn/1906’, Brangwyn gift, 1944. Johannesburg (P87) printed in bistre ink. Leicester (F2.1926) signed in full, purchased from FAS through C R Chisman. London BM (1943,1211.166, 1st state printed on sheet of toned chine appliqué) signed in pencil and inscribed ‘No 3’, and (1943,1211.166, artist’s proof printed in brown ink) signed in pencil and with collector’s stamp verso. Vienna (1914/412).
Related works: Ghent, Beer Shop (E922) (pE174) would appear to have been cut from this plate. Ghent, old houses (E723) (pE65) deals with the same subject matter – the building of the Sint-Michiels bridge.
Lit: Newbolt, 1908 (104). Studio The, West W K, ‘Some examples of recent work by Mr Frank Brangwyn ARA’, Vol 52, No 215, February 1911, p18. FAS, 1912 (140). Shaw Sparrow, 1919, p132. Gaunt, 1926 (140). Marechal, 1987, p249. Horner, 2023, p66-67
Ill: FAS, 1912 (140, 2nd state). Craftsman The, Reuterdahl Henry, ‘Frank Brangwyn: Painter-Etcher’, XXIII, 4 January 1913, p384 (courtesy C W Kraushaur). Gaunt, 1926 (140, 2nd state). Marechal, 1987, p12, 249. Horner, 2023, p66-67
Exh: Chicago, 1912 (10). Manchester, 1912 (12) 15 guineas. Paris, 1912. Melbourne, 1913, 20 guineas. Paris, 1915 (48) 2nd state. Queen’s Gate, 1924 (116). Whitechapel Art Gallery, 1925 (45). Northampton, 1926 (45). Brighton, 1935 (80). Melle, 1988 (47)
Based on a drawing showing alterations being made to the church in the background, described by West as ‘an excellent example of his preparatory work, a remarkable note of movement and action and a delightful piece of fluent draughtsmanship’.
Shadowy image of St Michael’s church in background, men foreground on quayside unloading materials for the stone arched St Michael’s bridge in Ghent which replaced the original flat turntable bridge . Man at top of steps with bottle of wine and glass in hand.
FAS 1912 15 guineas, 1914 15 guineas