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Download a PDF of the exhibition catalogue - The Scottish Gallery

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McBey was born into rural poverty in Aberdeenshire and died with homes in America, London and Tangier. He began<br />

work in a bank in Aberdeen aged 15 but was inspired to teach himself etching from a library book and by 1911 was<br />

able to exhibit his <strong>Scottish</strong> and Dutch etchings at <strong>the</strong> Goupil <strong>Gallery</strong> in London. He made some powerful images on <strong>the</strong><br />

Western Front and <strong>the</strong>n became an <strong>of</strong>ficial war artist attached to <strong>the</strong> Palestine Expeditionary Force making some <strong>of</strong> his<br />

most celebrated etched images including Dawn Patrol. He visited Venice first in 1925 and over <strong>the</strong> next five years made<br />

a series <strong>of</strong> etchings culminating in <strong>the</strong> extraordinary Venetian Night <strong>of</strong> 1930. He worked directly in front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subject,<br />

using a motorbike mirror so <strong>the</strong>y would print in <strong>the</strong> right direction. He also painted several beautiful, Impressionist<br />

views <strong>of</strong> Venice from <strong>the</strong> Lagoon with a sailing boat. Our picture relates to an etching <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> next year which is equally<br />

freely rendered.<br />

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