Rainy Night in Rome
Muirhead Bone (1876-1953), Rainy Night in Rome, drypoint, 1913,signed in pencil lower right and inscribed “Trial Proof” lower left margin. Reference: Dodgson 299, first state (of 10), a total of 125 impressions were printed in all 10 states. In very good condition, with margins (deckle edges bottom and right irregularly trimmed, the slightest toning), 12 x 8 7/8 inches, the sheet 15 3/4 x 11 inches.
Provenance: Kennedy Galleries, New York (with their stock number a11101).
A fine rich impression, printed with a brownish/black ink, with substantial burr and carefully wiped plate tone lightening the center of the composition, printed on a cream wove paper. A trial proof aside from the 48 impressions in this state.
As described by Dodgson, the ground at the bottom right is blank to a height of 10 mm in this state, but the foreground of the composition is in fact darkened with plate tone.
Rainy Night in Rome is one of Bone’s great iconic images. It shows the church San Girolamo degli Schiavoni (not the Church of St. Rocco, as mentioned by Dodgson), at an angle of the Via Schiavoria and the Via di Ripetta.
Detail