Etching

[Coco]

Who is C Fitzgerald? He created hand tinted etchings, apparently about 150 years old, by .

[sgs]

Do you know what the C. stands for?

[Coco]

No, I don't - the etching is just signed C Fitzgerald on the right. On the left, is presumably, the subject of the painting, but I can't read that at all. The main part of the picture is an old timbered (as in Tudor) house hanging out over some water, probably a river.

[sgs]

There's nothing on the web and he(??) doesn't appear in the 'bible' of etchers, helpfully entitled British Etchers, compiled by one Robin Garton, and neither Guildhall Library Print Room nor the British Museum Print Room appear to have heard of him. There were many amateur and semi-professional etchers in the 19th century and C. Fitzgerald may have been a v. v. minor artist. What's the subject matter of the print you have, Coco? That might help in the hunt.

[Coco]

Thanks for your help sgs. I've discovered a bit more - possibly Claude Fitzgerald, but nothing known of his work. Apparently, this medium was very popular in 19C, but since so many etchers and so much work, but little known about them and so no provenance. With no interest, therefore no value and so no research. The subject is difficult to describe - a scene with a river, a bridge ,a timbered house overhanging the water, a couple of rustic looking people - I have an image on my computer, but this forum doesn't give me the opportunity to send it to you to see. I'm told that my etching is an original and was probably a real scene, rather than fantasy. Apart from the signature, the artist had written something like Montrichard on the left, presumably the location? Coco