Lee Sturges Etching of a Street Scene "Rialto Venice," 1936

Item Details

Lee Sturges (American, 1865-1954)
Rialto Venice, 1936
Etching on paper
Signed in plate to the lower left and signed in pencil to the lower middle margin of sheet
From an edition of 50
Title inscribed to lower right of plate and in pencil to lower left corner of sheet; other inscriptions in graphite to bottom edge of sheet.
“Barcelona Catalunya Spain” watermark visible to bottom edge of sheet

American artist Lee Sturges was born in Chicago in 1865. He traveled across states for his studies, attending the Markham Academy in Milwaukee and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, but ultimately returned to Illinois to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1887, Sturges joined the family business, the Chicago Stamping Company, which made milk and waste cans. His business and industrial experience led him to found the Illinois Manufacturers Association in 1893, and start his own business, the Sturges and Burn Manufacturing Company in 1921. All this time, Sturges continued to make his own art, specializing in etchings and printmaking. He was an innovator and major influence in the resurgence of the art of etching. In 1916, Sturges received a patent for a personal-sized etching press which was small and affordable and granted artists more control over their printing practices. Sturges’ own etchings gained national and international recognition, specifically the intricate town and landscapes. By the time of his passing in 1954, Sturges had published multiple articles in art journals and exhibited his etchings at venues such as the National Museum of American Art, Washington D.C., and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Condition

- toning and smudges to sheet; light handling wear to sheet; paper tape attached to verso of top edge of sheet and is visible from front; some foxing present; chip to lower right corner of sheet.

Dimensions

- measures sheet; plate mark measures 5" W x 8" H.

Item #

ITMGM61657