Rheims Cathedral Original Color Etching Victor Lochelongue Signed Artist Proof

Description

#25389-HAR1C
"Antique colored etching of Rheims (Reims) Cathedral by Victor Valery Lochelongue 1870-1930, limited edition 152/380.

Lochelongue, Victor Valery (1870-1930) etcher of copper plate etchings (drypoint), primarily of scenes of Paris. He was born in Saint-Maurice (Seine), and was taught by the etcher Eugene Charrot.

He exhibited his etchings at the Salon des Artistes Francais from 1906. In the early part of his career it appears he produced only monochromatic (black/white) etchings signed “V Lochelongue”, but soon enough he turned to polychromatic etching, and in due course adopted the abbreviated signature of “Victor Valery”.
There are two images in existence that depict the same image of Notre Dame. One is signed “Victor Valery”, the other signed “V Lochelongue” (these likely reflect an early polychromatic effort – a palate of limited colors). These two etchings bearing different signatures seem to settle the the long standing argument that the two were separate artists. This makes it clear that in fact Victor Valery and Victor Valery Lochelongue were one and the same.
As he evolved, the palette of his etchings expanded. Safe to say, by and large, the more expansive the palette the later the work.

The vast majority of Lochelongue’s work consists of scenes in and around Paris; however, he also produced etchings of other places in France, e.g. Chartres and Rouen, as well as a few etchings of scenes outside France, e.g., Budapest and Nova Scotia.
Lochelongue’s etchings are known in two plate sizes. The larger is approximately 8 5/8” x 6 ¾”, and the smaller is approximately 5” x 3 1/8”. (measurements are approximate because the plates were doubtless created using metric measurements). The larger plates are seemingly always signed, with the one exception noted, “Victor Valery”, and the smaller plates simply “Valery”.

Condition

Very Good – Paper lightly yellowed; dings to frame; see pictures

Dimensions

23.125” x 31.75” x 1” / Sans Frame - 19.125” x 27.75” (Width x Height x Depth)