Sidney Long, Pres. Australian Soc. of Painter-Etchers

Etching on japan vellum, circa 1925, 152 x 90 mm (plate line); 265 x 170 mm (paper), titled lower centre, initialled lower right, lightly creased, a very good example.

An intimate portrait of Sydney Long etched by his teacher Frank Emanuel. Long took up etching in his late forties, this rare print is inscribed by Emanuel with Long’s title as President of the Australian Painter-Etchers Society, perhaps the ultimate achievement the teacher could wish for his student. Long held Emanuel in the highest regard, the publication The etched work of Sydney Long (1928) is dedicated to Emanuel, ‘my old master’. 

‘Sydney Long was born at Goulburn, NSW and studied under A J Daplyn, Frank Mahoney and Julian Ashton at Art Society of NSW classes 1892-96. He was taught etching in London by Frank Emanuel and Malcolm Osborne and started to etch in earnest in 1918-19, devoting much of his time to it for the following twelve years. Sales of his etchings were his livelihood and helped establish his reputation in London. He was an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Honorary Secretary of the Society of Graphic Arts in London. Following his return to Australia in 1925, Long was elected President of the Australian Painter-Etchers Society.’ – Art Gallery of New South Wales https://m.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/DA44.1969/

‘Painter of landscapes and interiors, draughtsman, etcher, teacher and writer; born in Bayswater, London and studied at University College, Slade School of Fine Art, under Legros (q.v.) and Julian’s Académie, Paris, under Bouguereau; exhibited from 1896 at the Royal Academy, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, Manchester Academy of Fine Art, New English Art Club, the Paris Salon and elsewhere; worked for the Manchester Guardian, The Studio and wrote for the Architectural Review; author of ‘Etching and Etchings: a guide to the technique and to print collection’, Pitman, 1930; taught etching at the Central School, 1918-1930; President of the Society of Graphic Art, examiner for the Royal Drawing Society; member of the Art Workers’ Guild and the Society of Marine Artists; lived in London. His work is held by the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Hastings Museums and Art Gallery, and in London by the Imperial War Museum, Guildhall Library and V&A Museum.’ – The British Museum https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG26453

Signed and inscribed but without an edition, this etching is possibly unique – we cannot locate another example.