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Overview
D.Y. Cameron was a successful painter and a very influential etcher. Strong tonal contrasts characterise his prints and his stark and dramatic paintings, which are mainly landscapes and cityscapes. In general his prints feature areas of great darkness, offset by highlights. Cameron’s etchings were noted for their use of dry-point, a skill that he had mastered over his years of production. This use of dry-point was particularly evident in his studies of church interiors and barren Scottish landscapes.
He studied at Glasgow School of Art before joining life classes at the Royal Scottish Academy. His work was acclaimed in Edinburgh, London, Berlin and Munich. During the First World War, Cameron was appointed official war artist to the Canadian government and in 1933 was made the King's Painter in Scotland. Cameron was highly sought after by collectors until the Great Crash of 1929 brought a collapse in prices for prints in general.
The Ducal Palace of Venice has been built, rebuilt and remodelled over ten centuries. Traditionally home to the Doges of Venice, the square building, supported by rows of sturdy columns and crowned with alternating pinnacles and arches, has also been home to the city's administrative and legislative bodies, courts and prisons. Cameron’s account of the Palace appears present and sturdy against the Venetian waters it presides over. The details are fine and crisp, creating a rich account of the building. His use of intensified shadow in the details of the Palace differentiate it from the surrounding buildings. These shadows on the façade are reflected in the foreground water. Cameron's rendition of water is a 'tour de force' of abstraction and contrasts highly effectively with the meticulous architectural detail.
Sources:
Arthur M. Hind, The Etchings of D.Y. Cameron (London; Halton and Truscott Smith, 1924)
Minneapolis Institute of Art:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/48211/doges-palace-venice-d-y-cameronNational Galleries Scotland,
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/artists/sir-david-young-cameronWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Young_Cameron
Dr Mark Stocker Curator, Historical International Art December 2017