Bookplate of Donald Grace (Cameron Swan)
c. 1898-1899
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 10 × 8 cm (3 15/16 × 3 1/8 in.) sheet: 11.3 × 9 cm (4 7/16 × 3 9/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.2500
Art Historical Context
Created around 1898–1899 by Scottish artist David Young Cameron, this delicate etching served as a personalized bookplate for Donald Grace, also known as Cameron Swan. Bookplates like this one were small, custom-designed labels pasted inside book covers to mark ownership, blending utility with artistic expression during a period when private libraries flourished among collectors and scholars. Measuring just 10 by 8 centimeters, the work highlights the intimate scale and precision possible with etching on laid paper. Cameron’s fine lines and subtle tonal variations create an elegant design sui...
About the Artist
David Young Cameron
Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945) was a Scottish painter and etcher who achieved international recognition primarily for his atmospheric etchings of architectural and landscape subjects. Born in Glasgow during the Victorian era, Cameron became one of Britain's most celebrated printmakers, eventually receiving a knighthood and serving in prominent positions including Trustee of the Tate Gallery a...