42. Ernest D. Roth
(1879-1964)

Street in Siena

(click on image to print)
Roth: Street in Siena

Street in Siena

Etching, 1924, 301 x 159 mm., American Etchers 93. A fine impression, with varied plate tone, on laid paper with good margins, signed and dated in pencil; very pale time toning around the old mat opening. Roth was born in Stuttgart, Germany and came to America, with his family, as a child. He had the typical immigrant’s tough time, working during the day, studying art only at night, but he was able to learn etching under James Smillie, probably among the best teachers of the day. Roth’s work, both paintings and prints, was concerned primarily with interesting architecture, both here and in Europe. Quite early in his career he established a base in Florence, etched the local scenery and had the satisfaction of seeing a dozen of his etchings purchased by the Uffizi. There is nothing strikingly original about Roth’s work; he is merely expert. In this image of Siena he captures both the depth and the ornamental flatness of the view, and the subtle touch of leaving plate tone on the arch and foreground and wiping clean the sky and the buildings is an object lesson in meticulous craftsmanship and the gentle art of making a good print even better.