The doorway, Vézelay, France

Albany Howarth (1872-1936) was a self-taught British etcher and watercolour artist. He became interested in etching as a technique in the early part of the 20th century, and from 1907 began drawing and printing regularly. At about this time, he emerged as a major etcher and frequently exhibited at such major venues as the Fine Arts Society, the Royal Academy and with the Royal Engravers. Howarth was elected an Associate of the Royal Engravers in 1920.

He travelled widely in England, Scotland, France (particularly, as in this etching), Spain and Italy, and specialised in architectural and landscape subject matter. Howarth often combined etching with drypoint to achieve strong tonal effects. Many of his etchings during the 1920s were published by the Fine Art Trade Guild, London, in editions of 150 signed impressions.

For the last few years of his life he lived and worked in Watford where he died in November 1936. An extensive biography, list of works, description of technique and much more is available on the impressive dedicated Albany Howarth website, http://www.albanyehowarth.co.uk/about.html.

Vézelay is a historic hill town in north-cental France, famous for its Romanesque abbey and also for its Basilica of St Mary Magdalene. Howarth's etching depicts one of the portals in the narthex of the Basilica with Romanesque tympana above, with a keen, accurate and picturesque eye for its ornate stone carving.

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art    April 2018