George Belcher RA (1875-1947) etching of the boxer Jimmy Wilde and his Agent

Product Description

George Belcher (1875-1947)
Etching of the boxer Jimmy Wilde and his Agent, Teddy Lewis
A modern pull from the original plate
Inscribed in the plate: Drawn and etched by George Belcher April 1919
Titled: A Hero of the Ring and his Agent/the NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB/ taken from life.
One of a series of character studies produced for the National Sporting Club, 1917-1921
paper size: 52.0 x 37.5 cm
plate size: 34.5 x 24.0 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.

Jimmy Wilde (1892-1969), the original ‘Mighty Atom’, was the world’s first World Flyweight Champion, and has been described as the greatest British fighter of all time.
Versions of this image in the collections of the British Council and the National Portrait Gallery.

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.