Lot 90
**Originally Listed At $400**
Valerie Thornton (British, 1931-1991). "The Norman Chapel, Durham Castle" etching and aquatint on paper, 1982. Edition 31 of 60. Hand-signed, dated, titled, and numbered beneath image. This atmospheric print captures the hushed interior of the Norman Chapel within Durham Castle, one of the earliest surviving examples of Norman architecture in England, built around 1078 under William the Conqueror. Thornton renders the chapel's heavy stone piers, rounded arches, and richly textured walls with a sensitivity to both their physical weight and their enduring spiritual resonance. The composition emphasizes the rhythm of the columns and the play of light filtering through narrow, iron-barred windows, evoking the austere grandeur of medieval sacred space. Thornton, celebrated for her architectural prints, was deeply drawn to Romanesque and Gothic structures, interpreting them with a combination of rigorous draftsmanship and expressive surface texture. Size of etching: 10.5" W x 16" H (26.7 cm x 40.6 cm); of frame: 19" W x 24" H (48.3 cm x 61 cm)
In this etching and aquatint, she balances fine linear detail with tonal richness, highlighting the monumental solidity of the Norman style while conjuring a contemplative mood of antiquity and endurance.
About the artist: A British printmaker celebrated for her architectural etchings, Valerie Thornton (1931-1991) was born in London and evacuated to Montreal during the Second World War before returning to study at the Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting and later Regent Street Polytechnic. Inspired by English romantics like Stanley Spencer and Graham Sutherland, as well as the groundbreaking printmaking at Atelier 17 in Paris, she developed a lifelong passion for etching. Thornton became a founder member of the Printmakers' Council in 1965 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers the following decade.
Her work, which often captured the textures of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is represented in major public collections including the British Museum, Tate, Fitzwilliam Museum, Ashmolean, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the New York Public Library. Throughout her career she exhibited widely in Britain and abroad, with retrospectives at the Redfern Gallery and the Ashmolean Museum. Thornton lived and worked in Suffolk until her death in 1991.
Provenance: private Arvada, Colorado, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#196529
- Condition: Mounted behind glass in custom matte and frame with suspension wire on verso for display. Has not been examined outside of glass, but appears to be in excellent overall condition. Hand-signed, dated, titled, and numbered beneath image.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |