Beschreibung:

Lord Martin Bladen Hawke, Yorkshire & England 1881-1911. Large and imposing sepia portrait photogravure of Lord Hawke, half length, wearing cricket attire, Yorkshire cap and blazer and holding a cricket bat to side, from the original portrait painting by Shirley Slocombe painted in 1903, in the possession of the Hawke family. Engraved by Franz Hanfstaengl of Munich and published by John B. Sampson of York on the 31st May 1905. One of one hundred and fifty proofs signed by Slocombe, with 'Print Sellers Association Blindstamp' to corner. The wording 'Published by John Sampson, York. Copyright. Gravure. Hanfstaengl, Munich' to top right hand corner. The portrait attractively mounted, measures 17.75"x22", and framed in oak frame, overall 33.75"x40.5". A truly wonderful striking image of Hawke, the father of Yorkshire cricket and a leading force throughout the golden age of cricket. A very rare image
The Print Sellers Association Blindstamp states the following information 'Hawke. Lord. Portrait of. Capt of the Yorks C.C.C .Team. Engr by Franz Haefstangle [sic] after Shirley Slocombe, pub J. B. Sampson May 31 1905. 150 signed proofs and 250 India paper proofs. The former were £3 guineas and the latter £1 guineas each'. Not previously ever seen by this auctioneer either through his sales or for sale elsewhere through auction, collector or dealer. Having checked with a couple of cricket art experts they report that they cannot recall ever seeing a similar example and suggest that few were ever sold on the open market, either signed or unsigned. A collection of correspondence between Hawke and Slocombe regarding the portrait and later photogravure (see the following lot, lot 247) was sold almost twenty years ago by Christopher Saunders who at the time stated in his description 'A print of the portrait was advertised in the 'Art Year' of 1906. It was a photogravure, with 250 copies at one guinea and 150 proof copies at three guineas. I have not come across this print, and would be most interested to know if it was ever produced'.... further evidence giving a clear indication that the photogravure is a truly rarely seen item. Shirley Charles Lewelyn Slocombe, was born at Islington in 1872. Slocombe studied at the Highbury Institute & School of Art and at the Royal Academy Schools from 1892 until 1897 and where he won the Landseer Scholarship in 1894. He exhibited at the Institute of Painters in Oil Colour and the Paris Salon and was elected an Associate Member of the Royal College of Art in 1901. He died at Kensington, London in 1935, aged 63. Slocombe attended Hawke's wedding to Marjory Nelson Ritchie Edwards in 1916 and was also commissioned to paint a similar portrait of Lady Hawke, Maud his wife, in 1917. Martin Bladen Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke, generally known as Lord Hawke, was an English amateur cricketer from 1881 to 1911 who played for Yorkshire and England. He appeared in 633 first class matches, including five Test matches, scoring 16,749 runs with a highest score of 166 and held 209 catches. He scored 13 centuries and 69 half-centuries. He captained Yorkshire between 1888-1910, through a glorious period in Yorkshire cricket, they were County Champions eight times in that period, coming runners up in four seasons. As a captain, Hawke was noted for taking a strong paternalistic interest in the welfare of his professional players. Certain aspects of this policy caused resentment but he was on the whole respected for it. Even so, he was strict on discipline and expelled the England bowler Bobby Peel from first-class cricket after he went out to play in a drunken state. During his playing career, Hawke became an influential figure in cricket administration. He was elected Yorkshire club president in 1898, while still captaining the team, and held the post until his death. He had a missionary-like zeal to develop cricket overseas and undertook nine tours as a player between 1887/88 and 1911/12, leading teams to Australia, India (twice), North America (twice), South Africa (twice), the West Indies and Argentina. All five of Hawke's Test appearances were made in South Africa. He captained the England team four times and was always on the winning side. After he retired from playing, Hawke became a major figure at MCC as well as at Yorkshire. He was appointed President of MCC for 1914 and retained the post, which is normally an annual appointment, through the First World War. He was appointed Honorary Treasurer of MCC from 1932 to 1937.