Artwork
Close He Had Come...
Close He Had Come... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Edward Webb. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Edward Webb’s 1846 print, titled Close He Had Come..., is an engraving executed on wove paper using black ink. The work presents a compact scene rendered entirely in line, measuring the typical dimensions of a mid‑nineteenth‑century print and exemplifying the period’s interest in narrative illustration.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a traveler in a wide‑brimmed hat, standing beside a horse while his gaze rests on a curled dog resting on the ground. The surrounding landscape—rugged cliffs, a winding path, and sparse vegetation—suggests a moment of pause during a journey, emphasizing themes of companionship and the quiet interludes of travel.
Technique & Style
Webb employed fine, parallel lines to model the horse’s mane and the craggy terrain, creating a sense of texture through cross‑hatching. The engraving’s precise line work conveys both the solidity of the figures and the atmospheric quality of the background, reflecting the detailed, observational style typical of mid‑19th‑century British prints.
History & Provenance
Created in 1846, the print was produced during a period when engraving served as a primary means of reproducing images for books and periodicals. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among Webb’s known prints and appears in collections that focus on Victorian-era graphic art.
Artist & collection
