Mytton Hall, Sir Francis Seymour Haden CMG FRCS PPRE, (English, 1818-1910), September 1859

Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1864 this composition shows the entrance to Mytton Manor Hall in slanting evening light. It is an early example of Haden’s innovative style in which the black velvet burr of drypoint for rich contrasts of light and shadow is exploited. Although drawn initially on the spot, this copper plate went through many states: showing subtle yet vital variations, particularly in the foreground.

Unlike the works of other Victorian etchers, which were mostly narrative in subject and style, this composition is naturalistic, not intended as decorative or anecdotal. This approach was to have far-reaching influence on other etchers and was the reason Haden became established as the leading figure of the British Etching Revival. Haden stayed sometimes three times a year, between 1855 and 1895, at Mytton Hall Hotel, a distinctive Tudor manor house near the village of Whalley in Lancashire, on his salmon fishing trips to the River Ribble nearby. Today, the slightly renamed Mitton is still in business and the architecture depicted in this composition remains unaltered.

Haden was awarded a medal in the 1893 International Exhibition in Chicago for Mytton Hall. This drypoint was published as print number XXIV in Etudes a L’Eau-Forte in 1866.

Edward Twohig RE (Fellow)

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