Canterbury Tower
1956
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
relief etching
Dimensions
plate: 45.72 x 36.2 cm (18 x 14 1/4 in.) sheet: 57.79 x 47.63 cm (22 3/4 x 18 3/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1964.8.1614
Art Historical Context
Valerie Thornton's *Canterbury Tower* (1956) is a striking relief etching that invites visitors to explore mid-20th-century printmaking at the National Gallery of Art Measuring 18 x 14¼ inches on the plate (¾ x 18¾ inches on the), this print from the Rosenwald Collection captures the architectural essence of its namesake—likely the towering Gothic spire of Canterbury Cathedral in England, a UNESCO World Heritage site symbolizing medieval faith and craftsmanship. Relief etching, a technique where ink adheres to raised surfaces on the plate, produces bold textures and dramatic contrasts, mimick...