Lot 147: ANTOINETTE GUERARD RHETT (CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 1884-1964) CHARLESTON HAND-COLORED ETCHING

Antoinette Francesca Guerard Rhett (Charleston, 1884-1964) Scarce Hand Colored Etching. "A Stairway on Glebe Street" inscribed with the title lower left and signed in pencil by the artist lower right. The etching features the stairway of the Glebe Mansion, 6 Glebe St., Charleston, South Carolina. First half 20th century. Edition of 100. Watermark F.G. Head & Co. Two corners of sheet edge with small loss. Toning and marks to border. Plate measures 4 1/4"x 4 1/4". Sheet 7"x6 3/4". Antoinette Guerard Rhett (1884-1964) was one of the finest etchers and watercolor artists of the Charleston Renaissance. She was born in Baltimore, MD of an old Charleston family, and spent most of her career in Charleston. A graduate of Converse College, she married Arthur Rose Rhett, brother of Robert Goodwyn Rhett, Mayor of Charleston. She was a favorite student of Alfred Hutty and helped found the Charleston Etchers' Club in 1923. Her subjects were scenes of Charleston and nature images including florals, butterflies, and tree limbs. Her etchings in delicacy and detail of design reflected the influence of Japanese art, but her use of color was original as she experimented with various colors of ink as well as hand-painted watercolors. Most of her prints are small in size and on very thin paper, giving the impression of fragility.

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