This beautiful early Florida watercolor painting depicts the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida during the late 19th century/early 20th century. The artist, Samuel Arlent Edwards, captures the stunning landscape of the famous place with impressive impressionistic style. Boasts good capture of light and depth with nice color and detail as well as an American Flag waving proudly from the fort. Likely painted soon after 1890 on his first visit to America. The painting is a one of a kind piece, handmade on paper, and matted for framing. Medium is watercolor on textured paper done in an Impressionist style. Unsigned but comes from a portfolio of paintings all from Edwards personal sketchbook, dozens of which were signed (please see photos 13 through 15 to see the collection that this came from. These are for reference purposes only and do not come with this painting). Mat inscribed in Edwards hand “St. Augustine”. Please see our other early Florida painting from this artist currently available in our eBay store.

Samuel Arlent Edwards (1862-1938) was an English-born artist and book illustrator working in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Educated at the Kensington Art School and trained in engraving by Appleton, Josey, and Alais of London, he became widely known for his mezzotints printed in color, an art form that had flourished and peaked in 18th-century Britain. Edwards's mezzotints range from reproductions of well-known European paintings by Botticelli, Boucher, and Da Vinci, to British and American portraits. He was meticulous about his work, and often inscribed "Engraved and printed in color at one printing without retouching" on each impression. His plates were issued in limited numbers then destroyed.

Biography

Samuel Arlent Edwards was born in 1862 in Somerset, England. He studied art and architecture at the Kensington Museum Art School from 1877 to 1881, and then continued studies in engraving with Appleton, Josey & Alais in London. He achieved early success in making mezzotint reproductions of well-known paintings, a path he was to follow all his life. In 1887, he enjoyed the distinction of having an engraving exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.

In 1890 he came to the United States and established himself in New York as a book illustrator under the name S. Arlent Edwards. He then began to work on color printing from a single mezzotint plate, an art dormant since late in the eighteenth century.

"After some years of experimenting and investigating, I believe that I have succeeded in reviving the almost obsolete art of printing in color from a mezzotint plate—done in one printing and without any retouching, as was practiced a hundred years ago by the English engravers—examples of whose works are now in such great demand. I have gone far enough in my experiments to be able to confidentially announce that all the beauties of the old printing will be retained in mine, and I can secure a depth and richness of colour that can be achieved by no other system of printing."

He abhorred the traditional practice of touching up imperfect prints by hand, and he routinely penciled in this statement just above his signature: "Engraved and printed in color at one printing without retouching."

S. Arlent Edwards in his New York studio

Edwards' work in New York was recognized by American and European collectors. He established a well-deserved reputation for his meticulous copies of old master paintings by such artists as Botticelli, Da Vinci, Nattier, Boucher, Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Romney. He often chose a dominating detail or image as his work's focus, however, rather than reproducing the entire painting. He also occasionally modified the colors. These changes infused his work with originality and gave a vivid sense of new life to the familiar scenes.

Edwards himself inked and printed each plate for every copy, and therefore no two prints were exactly alike. He made only a limited number of copies of each work, insisting that each be sold framed, and then he destroyed each plate. His engravings were sold to subscribers by major dealers such as D. B. Butler and M. Knoedler in New York.

In 1910 he returned to Europe, living in Bruges, Belgium, continuing to issue mezzotints from there. He remained in Bruges throughout World War I despite the German occupation. When Allied troops entered Bruges at the end of the war, he acquired instant notoriety by being the first to fly the American flag. Edwards returned to the United States in 1934, settling in Westport, Connecticut. He died there in November 1938.

In Very Good overall condition. Clean and crisp with only some very gentle blemishes. Remains bright and vibrant. No holes, rips or tears. Affixed to original artists sketchbook mat and ready to frame. Mat shows gentle toning. Displays handsomely and a great early piece of art from St. Augustine, Florida!

Measures 8” x 6” and 13 3/4” x 11” with the mat.

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