The Abundance of Egypt. The Afterglow in Egypt. by William Holman Hunt, 1827-1910

William Holman Hunt, 1827-1910
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The Abundance of Egypt. The Afterglow in Egypt.

Original etching in black ink. 1854/57. Exceptionally rare working trial proof. Before the completion of the drawing of the background figures to left and right, and before the extension of the image at the foot. Before the final work on the figure. Subsequently issued by The Etching Club, 1857
Ref: Hartnoll - Pre-Raphaelite Graphics no 6, illustrated. Provenance: The Artist's Estate. Mrs Elizabeth Burt.

Extremely fine working proof impression. On stiff white wove paper. Trimmed within the plate size (by the artist). Excellent clean condition. 3/4 to 2 3/4inch blank margins outsde the image. Sheet: 8 5/8 x 5 7/8ins. Image: 5 x 4 1/8ins (126x104mm)

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Hunt and Millais were two of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. They first met as students at the schools of the Royal Academy in 1844. In the following year they both began to realize that they were not in tune with the establishment style of arid and reverential interpretations of classical themes. They wrote that they found that 'painting by the rules' had replaced any liberty of personal expression. In figure painting there was none of the new freedom and realism which had come into landscape art since the turn of the century.

In seeking a new way they decided to try and revive the concept of a true representation without the dogma of the classical tradition, thus they conceived of their art as being 'before Raphael'. They sought a true quality of draughtsmanship and noble ideals expressed without the academic's pomposity, and with a real spirit of poetic and personal feeling.

Both Hunt and Milials were extremely gifted in the art of drawing. It was this beauty of line and concentration on pure delineation that they brought to their printmaking when they became fascinated by the medium in the 1850s.