Windhill Hill, No. 3
Seymour Haden was the unlikely combination of a surgeon and an etcher. Although he pursued a very successful medical career, he is mostly remembered for his etched work as well as for his writings on etching. He was one of a group of artists, including James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) and Alphonse Legros (1837–1911), whose passionate interest in the medium led to the so-called etching revival, a period that lasted well into the twentieth century. The extolling of etching for its inherent spontaneous qualities reached its pinnacle during this time. While the line of the etching needle, Haden wrote, was "free, expressive, full of vivacity," that of the burin was "cold, constrained, uninteresting," and "without identity."
Castle in background at right; foliage in foreground.
"State I (Da, I impression; Ha). A woman has been sketched while washing clothes in the shallow water of the tree-shaded moat; the surrounding woods are very dark; in the center distance is the keep of Corfe Castle, and in the left distance several houses and possibly a church have been sketched in. With the inscription Seymour Haden 1877(D, l.l.)"
[Source: Schneiderman, p. 317]
"Trial Proof: (a) 'Seymour Haden 1877' Only one impression taken. Coll. Harris B. Dick. Done at Corfe Castle."
[Source: Harrington, p. 86]
Castle in background at right; foliage in foreground.
"State I (Da, I impression; Ha). A woman has been sketched while washing clothes in the shallow water of the tree-shaded moat; the surrounding woods are very dark; in the center distance is the keep of Corfe Castle, and in the left distance several houses and possibly a church have been sketched in. With the inscription Seymour Haden 1877(D, l.l.)"
[Source: Schneiderman, p. 317]
"Trial Proof: (a) 'Seymour Haden 1877' Only one impression taken. Coll. Harris B. Dick. Done at Corfe Castle."
[Source: Harrington, p. 86]
Artwork Details
- Title: Windhill Hill, No. 3
- Artist: Sir Francis Seymour Haden (British, London 1818–1910 Bramdean, Hampshire)
- Date: 1877
- Medium: Drypoint; first (final) state (Harrington); fourth state of five (Schneiderman)
- Dimensions: Sheet: 8 1/16 × 12 3/8 in. (20.5 × 31.5 cm)
Plate: 5 15/16 × 9 in. (15.1 × 22.8 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
- Object Number: 17.3.2091
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Sir Francis Seymour Haden
The Fine Art Society, London
1879
Sir Francis Seymour Haden
The Fine Art Society, London
1879
Sir Francis Seymour Haden
1864
Sir Francis Seymour Haden
1865
Sir Francis Seymour Haden
1860
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.