George Belcher RA (1875-1947), etching of the boxers Bill Baxter and Arthur Guttridge

Product Description

George Belcher (1875-1947)
Hand-coloured etching of the boxers Bill Baxter and Arthur Guttridge
A modern pull from the original plate
Inscribed in the plate: Drawn and etched by George Belcher Aug 29th 1918
Titled: TWO VETERANS of the NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB/ taken from LIFE/ Bill Baxter and Arthur Guttridge
One of a series of character studies produced for the National Sporting Club, 1917-1921
paper size: 45.6 x 33.5 cm
plate size: 32.5 x 23.5 cm

George Belcher R.A. (1875-1947) was a British cartoonist, etcher and painter. He worked most famously and consistently for Punch magazine, as well as the Tatler and Vanity Fair, and exhibited extensively from 1909. His portraits, always drawn from life, were held in high esteem. His work is held in public collections throughout the UK, including the British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Council and many others.

Bill Baxter (b.1861) and Arthur Guttridge (1861-1938), were, by 1918, two old boxing hands, but had been principal figures in the British boxing scene of the 1880s to 1900s.

The National Sporting Club, the precursor organisation to the British Boxing Board of Control, was established in 1891, and became the most important force in the structuring and development of British boxing. George Belcher’s series of character portraits of both boxers and officials was undertaken from 1917, and became his most celebrated set of etchings.