The Old Museum, Beauvais

D.Y. Cameron was a successful painter and a very influential etcher. He studied at the 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. Despite his excellence as a printmaker, his work still remains underrated both in art historical and market terms.

Strong tonal contrasts characterise his prints and his stark and dramatic paintings, which are mainly landscapes and cityscapes. His prints often feature areas of great darkness, offset by highlights. Cameron’s etchings are notable for their use of drypoint, a skill that he had mastered over his years of production. This is particularly evident in his studies of church interiors and Scottish landscapes.

The Old Museum, Beauvais, (which should really be the 'former' museum, the French word is 'L'Ancien'), is a fine example of Cameron’s mastery of tonal variance. His skill in combining drypoint with plate tone is exemplified in the details of the work. Deeper shadows surround the entrance of the former museum, shrouding the building with a slight sense of dour mystery. Its irregular roofline and sturdy, probably recycled Doric columns clearly appealed to Cameron. The isolation of the abandoned building is amplified by the lack of people around it and the courtyard in the foreground, which is so empty that it is hardly touched by the artist at all. The Old Museum, Beauvais, is one of two prints that Cameron made of Beauvais held in Te Papa’s collection, the other being Beauvais (1910) (1970-0019-3).

Sources:

Arthur M. Hind, The Etchings of D.Y. Cameron (London; Halton and Truscott Smith, 1924)

National Galleries Scotland, https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/artists/sir-david-young-cameron