Breaking up of the "Agamemnon," No. I
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."
Sunset in background, at left; the 'Agamemnon' at center; a wrecking barge with smoke emanating and smaller boats with men in front of 'Agamemnon' ship in middle ground, at right; a dock, boats, and a view of Greenwich in foreground.
"State VIII (D1, H1). The shore line and sky under the bow of the Agamemnon, added in state VI, removed and replaced by a smoking chimney, a brig under sail, stern on, and two small sailing boats. A rigging line from the left side of the Dreadnought to the top of its mast has been etched. The shadows under the stern of the Agamemnon, added in state V, either burnished out or have worn. Drypoint work in waves in water above balk of timber. The shadows of the ships in front of Greenwich have been strengthened and the cupola of Greenwich redefined with drypoint."
[Source: Schneiderman, p. 273]
"Published States: First.- A smoking chimney, a brig under sail, stem on, and two small sailing-boats appear in the distance beneath the bow of the ship."
[Source: Harrington, p. 71]
Sunset in background, at left; the 'Agamemnon' at center; a wrecking barge with smoke emanating and smaller boats with men in front of 'Agamemnon' ship in middle ground, at right; a dock, boats, and a view of Greenwich in foreground.
"State VIII (D1, H1). The shore line and sky under the bow of the Agamemnon, added in state VI, removed and replaced by a smoking chimney, a brig under sail, stern on, and two small sailing boats. A rigging line from the left side of the Dreadnought to the top of its mast has been etched. The shadows under the stern of the Agamemnon, added in state V, either burnished out or have worn. Drypoint work in waves in water above balk of timber. The shadows of the ships in front of Greenwich have been strengthened and the cupola of Greenwich redefined with drypoint."
[Source: Schneiderman, p. 273]
"Published States: First.- A smoking chimney, a brig under sail, stem on, and two small sailing-boats appear in the distance beneath the bow of the ship."
[Source: Harrington, p. 71]
Artwork Details
- Title: Breaking up of the "Agamemnon," No. I
- Artist: Sir Francis Seymour Haden (British, London 1818–1910 Bramdean, Hampshire)
- Date: 1870
- Medium: Etching with drypoint; first state of two (Harrington); eighth state of eleven (Schneiderman)
- Dimensions: Sheet: 13 1/4 × 19 9/16 in. (33.7 × 49.7 cm)
Plate: 7 11/16 × 16 1/4 in. (19.5 × 41.3 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
- Object Number: 17.3.606
- 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 (British, London 1818–1910 Bramdean, Hampshire)
1879
Sir Francis Seymour Haden (British, London 1818–1910 Bramdean, Hampshire)
1879
Sir Francis Seymour Haden (British, London 1818–1910 Bramdean, Hampshire)
1864
Sir Francis Seymour Haden (British, London 1818–1910 Bramdean, Hampshire)
1865
Sir Francis Seymour Haden (British, London 1818–1910 Bramdean, Hampshire)
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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.