Samuel Palmer – The Lonely Tower (Lister 12)

Out of stock

Etching, 1879, a good impression of the fifth state of six, with a small bar of light added to the right of the moon and a lighter area of sky above the trees, on wove, signed in pencil S Palmer lower right, inscribed 173 Lonely Tower, with the ‘AHP Private Press’ embossed stamp lower left, a further inscripton on the reverse reads, Club 7. 19 may 1879, with A.H.Palmer’s monogram, wide margins.

Additional information

Image

167mm x 234mm

Plate

188mm x 253mm

Sheet

260mm x 350mm

Brand

Palmer, Samuel (1805-1881)

Palmer became an artist at an early age, at 14 he had exhibited at the British Institution, sold a landscape and had three works hung in the Royal Academy. At 17 he met the artist John Linnell, later to become his father in-law, who guided and mentored him and introduced him to William Blake, who influenced his work throughout his life. Palmer became the leader of a group of young artists called the 'Ancients', his good friend George Richmond was also a member. During the 1820s Palmer went to live in the Kent village of Shoreham, which he called ‘Valley of Vision’ and it was here, living together with fellow Ancients, that he produced some of his most celebrated romantic landscapes combining visionary imagery with a highly detailed study of nature. It was when he left Shoreham that he went on his travels to Wales and the Wye Valley and after marrying Hannah Linnell, to Italy. Palmer’s spirituality, his relationship and attitudes to rural life shaped his work. His personal life was marred with tragedy and turmoil. He had 3 children with his wife, daughter of John Linnell, only one of which survived. Palmer was distraught after the death of his eldest son at 19, and never fully recovered, blaming himself for pushing his son too much. Palmer’s relationship with Linnell became strained due to their differences over religion and politics and resentment over his continued financial support. Palmer received little critical attention during his lifetime but posthumously has been more widely recognised. His work featured in ‘Watercolour’, an exhibition at Tate Britain (Feb-Aug 2011).