‘The Falcon’ by Maurice and Edward Detmold (1883-1908) and (1883-1957)*
Original Etching. Published 4th October, 1904 by Macmillan & Co for ‘The Artist Engraver’.
Measures 15 by 20 cms. Good Condition. Unframed
*The gifted Detmold twins received early encouragement from artistic uncles with early influences being taken from traditional Japanese art, Albrecht Durer’s animal illustrations and the style of the wider Art Nouveau movement. First exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1896 aged 13, the twins collaborated on producing illustrations for various publications, notably 16 plates for ‘The Jungle Book’ published by Macmillan in 1903 which was much admired. After Charles' death in 1908, Edward continued with illustration, again with great success. Initially continuing to specialize in bird subjects, Edward subsequently widened his subject matter, producing a variety of illustrations for children’s books, a notable example being Hodder & Stoughton’s ‘Arabian Nights’ published in 1924 which remained so popular that an edition was reprinted in 2003 by the Folio Society.
Edward’s meticulous and detailed work was beautiful, but slow to produce and consequently commissions declined as publication deadlines were missed. Gradually retiring from professional life, he moved to Monmouthshire with his widowed sister and lived quietly until his death in 1957.
